Contextualization

Ancient Greek civilization is one of the most captivating and influential in world history. Several aspects of our contemporary culture and society have their origins in Ancient Greece, especially in the philosophical, political, and, the subject of our focus, artistic fields. Greek art, with its sophisticated representation of the human figure and aesthetics, has profoundly influenced the development of Western art.

Greek art is popularly known for its marble sculptures, painted ceramics, and astonishing architecture. But more than an aesthetic expression, Greek art was a direct representation of their culture, ideals, and stories. Through it, we learn about the mythology, religious rituals, historical events, and everyday life of Ancient Greece.

Introduction

When we think about Greek art, the first style that probably comes to mind is the “Classical” one; however, Greek art encompasses three main periods: Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic. Each period presents unique characteristics and innovations that, when studied, allow us to understand the process of artistic evolution within Greek society.

The Archaic Period (8th century - 5th century BC) is characterized by the emergence of large stone temples, sculptures of human figures known as Kouroi and Korai, and decorated pottery, such as the well-known black-figure and red-figure ceramics. The Classical Period (5th century - 4th century BC) marks an advance in the representation of the human body, aiming for perfection and balance. Finally, in the Hellenistic Period (4th century - 1st century BC) art becomes even more naturalistic, portraying the variety and complexity of human forms.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Journey through Greek Art

Project Goal

This activity aims to:

1. Understand the artistic styles of each period (Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic) of Ancient Greece.
2. Study relevant artworks from each period.
3. Comprehend the influence of Greek art in shaping Western art and its relevance in contemporary times.
4. Practice research skills, teamwork, oral presentation, and writing.

Detailed Project Description

Form groups of 3 to 5 students. Each group will be responsible for creating a “Virtual Exhibition” on Greek art.

The exhibition should be organized into three sections corresponding to the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. Each section should contain images of significant artworks from the period, accompanied by detailed descriptions and interpretive analysis of these works.

In addition, each group must produce a 15-20 minutes documentary-style video exploring the exhibition, discussing the evolution of artistic styles, and their cultural, social, and political implications.

Required Materials

1. Internet access for research and the development of the Virtual Exhibition.
2. Digital tools to create the Virtual Exhibition and the documentary video. We recommend using free platforms such as Google Sites, Canva, Adobe Spark, among others.
3. Research materials provided in the "Resources" section and other materials found.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Form the groups and divide the tasks among the members. Each member should actively participate in the research, creation of the Virtual Exhibition, and the video.

2. Conduct thorough research on Greek art. Use the suggested resources and other reliable materials found. Keep a record of all sources used for the Bibliography.

3. Select the artworks to be included in the Virtual Exhibition. Consider choosing works that represent different aspects of each period.

4. Describe and interpret each artwork in a short text. The text should include the name of the artwork, the artist (if known), the date, the material used, what the artwork represents, and why it is significant to the period.

5. Organize the Virtual Exhibition. Make sure the interface is easy to navigate and that the information is clear and correct. Review all information and formatting before finalizing it.

6. Record the documentary video. It should be a guided tour of the Virtual Exhibition, with discussions and interpretations of each section. Each group member should actively participate in the recording of the video.

7. Review the final video and the Virtual Exhibition before presenting them. Correct any errors or omissions.

8. Finally, present the Virtual Exhibition and the video to the class and answer any questions that your classmates or the teacher may have.

Project Deliverables

Students must deliver:

1. The complete Virtual Exhibition, with the URL for access.

2. The documentary video in a shareable format (YouTube link, Google Drive, etc.).

3. A written report, with the following parts:

   • Introduction: Contextualize Greek art, its influence on Western art, and the relevance of studying this topic. State the objectives of the project.

   • Development: Here, describe the methodology used for the research and creation of the Virtual Exhibition and the video. Detail the main characteristics of each Greek artistic period, along with the chosen artworks. Discuss the results obtained - what does the art reveal about the culture, society, and politics of the Greeks in each period?

   • Conclusions: Summarize the main points of the project. What was learned about Greek art and its influence? What were the challenges faced during the project? How did teamwork contribute to the final result?

   • Bibliography: List all the sources of information used in the research.

This project is expected to take more than 12 hours per student to complete, as it involves in-depth research, teamwork, creation of digital content, and video production.