canterbury tales characters
In this project, you will consider the character qualities of the Canterbury Tales and compare them to contemporary society using both contemporary and medieval artistic and visual techniques.
Essential Questions we will consider:
Essential Questions we will consider:
- How does the Canterbury Tales connect with our contemporary society?
- What did mankind lose when it gave up the medieval mind, body and soul and in what ways was their life actually richer?
- What differs between the people and how we live our life from medieval times and current times? What is the same?
- How can drawing comparisons help us understand something better?
- What is unique and special about medieval art?
Project Expectations:
For this project, you will create a character portrait that blends Medieval ideas and artistic qualities with Contemporary ideas and artistic qualities. Your project should be an illustration of a Canterbury Tales character modernized to fit with how they would be in contemporary society.
Consider what insights you can share about Medieval times and contemporary society by combining them.
Also, consider your Medieval Minds essay and what did mankind lose when it gave up the medieval mind, body and soul and in what ways was their life actually richer? How can that be shown in your character portrait?
Expectations:
- Show internal and external character traits of your Canterbury tales character and what their contemporary equivalent would be
- Represent these character's identity visually
- Make a comment on Medieval and/or contemporary society by your act of contemporizing characters
- The contemporizing should not focus on occupation - it should be focused on societal equivalent - think about their role in society
- The contemporary equivalent can be an individual (Barack Obama), group (hipsters) or pop culture icon (Darth Vader)
- Represent qualities of medieval art (your choice which, see our class discussions and below)
- Media of your choice (consider contemporary media!)
- Meet additional expectations of the rubric (see below)
Deadlines
Plan and sketch - Due Date: Tuesday, 12/3
- A detailed sketch and a written explanation of the following:
- How your project will modernize your Canterbury Tales character (make sure to consider the internal and external character traits of your Canterbury tales character and what their contemporary equivalent would be)
- What comment are you making on Medieval and/or contemporary society by your modernization of your Canterbury Tales character
- What qualities of Medieval Art you are representing
Project and Statement: Due Date: Tuesday, December 17
Artist Statement and Rubric
canterbury_tales_rubric.pdf | |
File Size: | 157 kb |
File Type: |
ct_project_artist_statement.pdf | |
File Size: | 148 kb |
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Examples of illustrations of the Canterbury Tales Characters
Some of these are from the times of the Canterbury Tales, but most are more modern. Arthur Szyk's illustrations are from the mid-1900's.
Resources:
Arther Szyk:
http://www.szyk.org/project/illustrated-books/
http://brer-powerofbabel.blogspot.com/2012/01/arthur-szyk-canterbury-tales.html
Medieval Art Resources
General Resources:
Wikipedia Medieval Art article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_art
Glossary of Medieval Art: http://www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuglossary/INDEX.HTM
Khan Academy's Art of Medieval Europe Page: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world
Medieval Art Collections in various museums: http://www.newyorkcarver.com/museum.htm
The Met's Medieval Art Collection: http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search#!?department=17&perPage=20&sortBy=Relevance&sortOrder=asc&offset=60&pageSize=0
Medieval Art, 1000-1400 AD: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/medieval-art.htm
Art History Timelines:
General Art History Timeline: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/materials/art/Tanzi/fall04/202/ArtHistoryStylePeriodsf04.htm
Detailed General Art History Timeline: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art-timeline.htm
Met Museum's Timeline of Art - 500-1000 AD Europe: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/chronology/#?time=06&geo=eu
Met Museum's Timeline of Art - 1000-1400 AD Europe: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/chronology/#?time=07&geo=eu
Quick Rundown of Art History Eras: https://www.thoughtco.com/quick-rundown-of-art-eras-182703
Byzantine Era:
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/byzantine.htm
https://www.artsy.net/gene/byzantine-art
Characteristics:
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-art/byzantine-art.htm
- Mainly focused on religion, "translation of church theology into artistic terms"
- Mostly 2d (painting, mosaics)
- Byzantine Art was totally flat - one dimensional. There was no perspective
- There were no shadows
- Figures in Byzantine Art were generally depicted front-facing
- Byzantine Art featured long, narrow and solemn faces
- There was no attempt to portray realism in somber Byzantine Art
- Pietistic painting (Christian art)
- Artists were members of religious houses such as monasteries
- There were no sculptures as these were looked upon as a form of idolatry
- Somber tones were used
- Ornate materials
Romanesque Era:
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/romanesque-art.htm
The Met's Romanesque Collection/Essay: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rmsq/hd_rmsq.htm
Characteristics:
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-art/romanesque-art.htm
The Romanesque art style of the middle was created largely for the Western Christian Church which became known as the Catholic church. The style of Romanesque Art was characterized by:
- The production of Pietistic painting (religious Christian art) in the form of illuminated manuscripts, mosaics and fresco paintings in churches
- Medieval art in the form of brightly colored stained glass windows
- Illuminated manuscripts
- The colors in the art of this period were generally muted except those used in manuscripts and stained glass windows
- Figures in Romanesque Art often varied in size in relation to their importance
- Religious shrines and caskets were decorated with fine metals, gilt work and enamel
- Romanesque embroidery including the Bayeux Tapestry
- Large, stone, figurative sculptures
- Small Ivory Carvings
- Murals
- Ornate materials
- tapestries
- Panel paintings
- Stained Glass windows
- Later Romanesque art was influenced by the changes in Byzantine art.
Gothic Era:
Google Arts and Culture - Gothic Art: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/u/0/entity/m03mmhl?categoryId=art-movement
Characteristics:
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-art/gothic-art.htm
- Brighter colors
- Move towards realism
- The development of perspective and proportion in Gothic art
- The use of shadows and light
- New ideals of naturalism
- Creation of a sense of pictorial space
- The use of symmetry in Gothic art
- Changes in subject matter including the depiction of animals and mythological scene
- Ornate Materials
- Illuminated Manuscripts
- tapestries
- Panel paintings
- Stained Glass windows
- sculptures
Illuminated Manuscripts:
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/medieval-manuscript-illumination.htm
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/medieval-europe/a/medieval-manuscripts
Contemporary Artists who blend Medieval and Classical Art in their work
Classical Art in Modern Context: http://weburbanist.com/2015/02/04/classical-art-in-modern-contexts-25-clever-art-remixes
Tom Hunter (references Vermeer): http://www.tomhunter.org/persons-unknown/
Eisen Bernardo: https://mic.com/articles/99492/an-artist-combined-magazine-covers-with-classic-art-with-fantastic-results#.ZS6VkQUWB
Kehinde Wiley
kehindewiley.com/
https://npg.si.edu/exhibit/recognize/paintings.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kehinde-wileys-echoes-of-masterworks/