The Death of Socrates: How To Read A Painting
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- čas přidán 29. 03. 2015
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![[Vowel]물고기는 물에서 살아야 해🐟🤣Fish have to live in the water #funny](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3G9MH063Cx4/mqdefault.jpg)
pretty confident that everyone went "OHHHHHHHHH" when he said that it was a projection of Plato's memory
ur profile pic had me whizzing....
yes
My jaw dropped
Not really.
There's more to it. I'm pretty sure that the picture represents Plato remembering the death of Socrates while himself is dying. Maybe that's why there's a guy lammenting and hugging the wall at his side. Maybe they're two different scenes.
I can't believe I just watched this for free.
You, then, should visit art museums more often.
@@decem_sagittae I do bro, and I'd love to see this painting in person someday.
It's so odd how knowledge has become a commodity. This is a symptom of sick money-based society.
@@pedrobahito Knowledge has always been prohibited from those who can not afford it.
right?!?!?!?!?!? i love this guy
As a philosophy major, I have seen this painting countless of times. Embarrassingly, I never took the time to marvel and decipher the message it has to offer. The presentation of the painting as a painful memory of Plato is one of the most beautiful thing I’ve learned in a long time.
Embarrassingly you still haven't taken the time to decipher its message and meaning and instead just accepted someone elses subjective interpretation.
@@Tyronejizz Last time I checked, I can like someone's opinion and still be able to form my own. If your professor commended your essay, does it mean that he accepts your pov as an irrefutable fact? Your comment is non-sequitur, buddy.
What's your basis that I still haven't taken the time to decipher it on my own?
@@Tyronejizz lol get rekt kid
@@jasperyoung2466 "What's your basis that i still havent taken the time to decipher it on my own?"
1. You mentioning in your original that you learned it was a memory.
2. You admitted you never took the time to do so.
3. The fact that you're a philosophy major.
Btw its not a non sequiter.
Your comparison, however, is a false equivalency, _buddy_ . Instead of a professor giving compliments to the student you are more like a student giving praise to a proffesor without thinking about what you're being taught.
@@Tyronejizz
Let me make this simpler for you bud.
The original comment was *ten* months ago. *How did you know* that I did not bother to form my own opinion or advance my education within that period? As you’ve said, I **still haven’t** 10 months later after I made my comment. I didn’t know I had a personal assistant occupied with my preoccupations.
And what makes you certain that I just praised his opinion without giving it thought? Can you read my mind? Isn’t it plausible that based on my own judgment and understanding of Greek philosophy and history, I thought his opinion was reasonable? It astounds me how you can’t wrap your head that one can compliment a pov, and still think independently.
Just because I used the word “learned” doesn’t mean that i abide by it as dogma. It’s just another term for "I was made aware of". Like today, I learned about an internet stranger’s proclivity for baseless presumptions pulled out of his ass.
Now I get why people stare at art pieces for so long.
Just can't look away once that train of thought emerges.
Connecting the dots, making out new meanings, birthing new ideas, feeling inspired, childish and curious.
I felt it all and more while you talked about it.
Thank you for making this, it made me realize how art is so much more than what meets the eye. So truly beautiful!
it’s the same as poems tooo or song it’s truly wonderful feeling you get :)
@@LOVE-wq4ku art is art, millions of kind of art exists but actally there is just one the art of expression
When you said that the image seemed to explode from Plato's head and suggested it being a memory, I went: "OOOOOH SHIIIIIIIIIIT."
Fucking beautiful.
Yeah me too
bull shit
that was absolute trash
@@mohammedmagdy118 shutup idiot, you havent done anything to contribute to this world. You useless piece of shit.
@@mohammedmagdy118 Wow, your deep.
@@apollonmegara8220 That's very nice of you sir. your mama is gay. Have a nice day cheers.
The interpretation that it is the projection of Plato's memory is brilliant!
It's obvious. One must turn one's back on reality to remember it by reimagining it as an ideal.
he somehow could not remember in the same scene the wife. Which he then recalled in a second memory
It really makes sense considering that Plato is an old man in the painting, which is odd because he would've been about thirty when Socrates died.
Emphasized by the fact that Plato doesn’t even appear to take part in the scene, making it really seem a representation of a memory.
Exactly, that blew my mind.
Not sure how I ended up here, but I suddenly have an interest in art!
Amen brother
art is most beautiful thing there is...i belive in that
I still get goosebumps listening to this man's explanation.
made me cry
Oceane Iglesias same when he was talking about how plato described that he said his death was to teach his final lesson that death shouldn’t be feared by the philosopher and that it’s an implement of the soul Man Socrates was amazing
Yeah same
Despite the hard time back then , Socrates never skipped leg days
wow 1k likes n no reply how does that even happen?
😂😂😂😂was thinking that too
Same
@@ashesh8085 See this is why there should be no replies. If there is , it would have been meaningless as yours. Why should 1k liked comments needed replies? Just enjoy the pun and fly away. Now not only teh comment got replies but also you made me reply on this thread.
What does" ..skipped leg days " mean ?
Socrates never missed a day in gym ...
xdeiri you know he was hittin that gym early and often. At 70 years old you can't get pecs or arms like that with out triangle push ups and curls for the girls. And look at that sitting position tummy! (heard he was on the juice though. Other paintings show a lot of back acne and he used to rage on Xanthippe, beat the shit out of her.)
And neither should you #swolelevelsocrates
I know is just a picture and not real socrates but man look at the size of those forearms lol
He could crush coconuts with one hand.
Never skipper leg day aye
to
That was the best analysis of a piece of art I’ve ever heard. Absolutely gripping from beginning to end!
I agree.. The way he describes paintings makes you look at art entirely different .. I've watched ALL of his videos several times 😉
Try sister Wendy's Art
What other analyses have you heard?
My third eye opened after watching this.
this is why I love CZcams. i would never have been exposed to this otherwise. i never understood the hype around art, but broken down like it is in this video, I can see the depth and layers. w/o CZcams, I wouldn't be able to expand my knowledge and understanding. I wouldn't know how to begin deconstructing something that, to me, aprears flat at first glance. I'm so thankful for nerdwriter, and the platform that allows me access to it.
Now you have moral justification to binge watch on CZcams.
Thank CZcams for cat videos
I had to take an Art History Class in College for a similar experience. I fully agree with your conclusion. This spread of knowledge is a blessing.
books
praise be the god called youtube of making our lifes so informative and pleasurable and changing the whole generation :D
1000 years from now, this is how future humans will read/analyze memes
Millicent THE WAY I WHEEZED! 😂
I love your brain.😂
Fried memes are our times picasso
lmaooo
7:02
imagine creating something so breathtakingly beautiful that the whole world agrees to protect what you've created for 100's of years to come
David: **puts signature on Crito's seat** hell yeah i can totally make my name look like a cool engraving on this chair
Nerdwriter: It's because he *connects with Crito*
I don't like it when people overthink works of art either, but considering the artist signed his name twice in this piece, both times under prominent characters, I would think that adds credibility to the argument made in the video.
Josh Bean as well as the fact that David’s signature placement often had symbolic meaning
@@massivewon I think if anything it diminishes his argument. He explains the Crito signature as being a due to a personal connection, but then later writes off the second signature as David having a prophetic vision of the revolution that hasn't begun yet collapsing.
It also ignores the differences in signatures: the one below Crito is his personal signature and is written in a calligraphic style which I would assume would be quite difficult to carve into stone if you look at it as being diegetic, whereas the one below Plato only his initials and is carved in a typical angular stone carving manner, making it the more believable diegetic signing.
I don't know what the meanings are but I think the question is better focused on these aspects. Perhaps Nerdwriter was right that the personal signature below Crito indicates a personal connection from David, but also that the initials below Plato indicate a more political or philosophical association hence the use of a less personal and individual form of signature. If Rococo art was driven by hedonism and aristocratic ego, then it would make sense that Neoclassicism as a rejection of that art would be more humbled and less centred on the individual, and in the time immediately preceding the revolution, more focused on the role of the citizen. Sublimating that ego in the personal signature for the more democratic and civillian initials would be the embodiment of the revolution's _égalité_ and _fraternité_ .
Imagine thinking that David (an artist who literally only ever painted himself three times) signing a painting twice is in any way shape or form accidental and doesn’t speak to something more important. Lmao
Wow this blew my mind I never realised how an entire story could be told with a non moving image
It can't... what you're hearing is 90 percent made up. Welcome to "art appreciation." So you can put your mind back in your head now.
It's can, the artist definitely did told a story. How viewers form their idea is up to them.
you philistine haha what are you talking about "made up"!
I have to inform you, that there are ideas and there are role models as two separate things, which means that not every truth is spoken by a role model.
A pictures worth a thousand words
1. Point not mentioned are the shackles on the floor; Socrates freed of them, in body and in soul, and yet they somewhat eerily "wrap" around the feet of a man, a representative of the lies and false accusations of the state, who gives Socrates deadly poison. That is, those who condemn free and innocent man to death, are already enslaved in the culture of death, now and in afterlife.
2. Look at the set: it is Plato's cave. Few look towards the light, and those in deepest despair, have turned back to the light, looking at walls in deep shadows.
3. The lyre under Socrates' knee; he is Orpheus now descending into afterlife, his death is a song which will free our existence if we follow him and his example.
Im a bit late, but this comment made me gaze at the picture for almost 15 more minutes.
Where can I get to know more about this picture?
☺☺☺
And what is that pot looking thing on that post and why is it missing in the shadow?
@@Daftchild89 its an ancient oil lamp on a pedestal; the wick burns out of the spout on one side; good point about it being missing in the shadow! maybe it has to do with the angle of the light source...
Well interpreted ...
Just Imagine how hard to master anatomy and paint it perfectly, hoomans in the past are awesome.
Yea, they were really awesome. I admire them.
It's nothing we can't do in the modern world, infact we can do everything they did in the past better than them using an advanced form of technology. But there are certain forces opposing such developments today. Have been for more than a century, really.
@@sol___invictus "Art" today is Banana taped to a wall mate, come on now
@@sridharprasanth8833 Because no single invididual today likes to create anatomical paintings?
@@sridharprasanth8833 There’s a world of art out there, you just have to find it
Today I was able to visit the Met for the first time in years and I stood in front of this painting for ages. It’s a wonderful painting when you see it online, but it’s absolutely breathtaking in person.
I’m currently feeling: jealous !!!!!
"Just one more drink, guys!"
🤣🤣🤣
I laughed so hard at this
Tushar Kumawat can‘t claim credit this is actually a t-shirt
Hahaha you ruined it in a good way
😅🤣🤣🤣
I am astounded that you failed to mention the shackles at Socrates' feet beneath the bed as if to declare that death is about to free him from the shackles of the governments of men.
I saw another comment point out that it's eerily around the feet of the man handing the poison
This sounds too much like contemporary modernist "anti-government" bias which strikes me as esp. off because
1.) given how highly regarded the concept of citizenship was in Athens, if--and because--it was very limited to who could possess it. Citizenship here required that citizens partake of public affairs--both the requirement and reward of citizenship. Today's anti-governmentalism is very anti-public--it's the private sphere that has, oddly, all the virtues, even when in ancient Athens it was public service that was esp. virtuous as such conversance and participation among one's fellow men was understood as being a part of both the use of and the development of one's rational faculties,
and
2.) the intentions of David here who wasn't railing against the evils of government either esp. in favor of some libertarian utopian sense of the private sphere. He is subtly critiquing France's absolutist monarchicalism in favor of republican ideals as influenced by Rousseau. This is also implicitly found in his _Oath of the Horatii_ where we see the patriotic defense of one country (the city-state of Rome during the early Roman Kingdom) with the martial defense of the homeland a part of this active citizenship and so one of the noted ideals of civic virtue in Greco-Roman discourses informing classical republicanism. So, the claim is guilty of a presentism fallacy.
The broken chain has two meanings. The first suggests Socrates' liberation from his death sentence by taking the option he refused--fleeing into exile, as encouraged by his friends and students (see the dialogue _Crito_ ). For Socrates, this action would be dishonorable as flouting the law as he was condemned by a legitimate Athenian court and civic virtue required obedience to the law. Secondly, and much more importantly, the broken chain is directly tied to Socrates' heavenward pointing finger. The painting deals with Socrates' dialogue on the soul as found in the _Phaedo_ . The overriding theme of that dialogue is the Pythagorean idea that "the body is the prison-house of the soul" as the latter's heavenly purity, repose and eternalness are corrupted by the former's obsessively restless need to satisfy the impermanent (and eventually unfulfilling) needs of earthly bodily life. So, by dying, Socrates is pointing out that his soul can go to its proper heavenly home as liberated or free, as no longer chained to its earthly prison-house.
@@sail2byzantium Fairly confident he's not referring to the the "governments of men" as the state, but just to the material or earthly world that governs men's lives.
Amazing
@@akyde1552 I'm fairly confident that this sense or interpretation of the phrase cannot work. "Governments of men" is a very precise phrase (esp. as backed by the use of the word "shackled") and cannot be taken as a generic descriptor of earthly existence in the abstract (which can encompass much more than political governance). It is directly referencing politics (or the state as you put it), as the institutions humans constitute to govern themselves. And Mr. Buckley points out that this, and precisely this, is what Socrates is being freed from (had he said "Socrates is being freed from the travails of human existence," you might have a point--but this is not what he said. He said something much more precise.).
And, again, this is not the sense to be found in the thought of Socrates and Plato who were not anti-government libertarians (Plato: "The punishment suffered by the wise *who refuse to take part in the government* , is to live under the government of bad men." Republic I. 347c. Hardly a libertarian sensibility of forsaking the public in favor of private life. In fact, it condemns it). Nor is this David's sense either whose sensibilities here fall within the tradition of classical Republicanism, esp. as seen in his prior picture, _The Oath of the Horatii_ , which defends an active public life and the idea of civic virtue. Modern US libertarianism would see "civic virtue" as a contradiction in terms.
It's great how art curators can see things, that even the artist didn't imagined to portray.
I noticed during an interview review of the movie Get Out, that some viewers comment interpreted the scenes in numerous ways even the director never thought of it and he actually loved these interpretations from the viewer point of view.
"Why didn't anyone ever tell me, "Socrates, hemlock is poison."?
-Socrates
Wait so isn’t this technically fan art?
most art is fan art
So is the Academy of Athens, by it escapes my mind.
@88 that made me imagine an artist who was slow making everybody at the execution stop for him to sketch the painting.
Plato and Socrates aren't copyrighted. Fan art is art about copyrighted stuff.
@ÖC Rohan Kishibe
5:15 socrates preparing for the karate kick 5:23 Socrates preforming the karate kick
Ryan Kelly underrated
I never been enlightened like this before! Thank you for imparting knowledge to us common people!😆😆😆
looks like some old pokémon fighting 😂😂
without youtube I would've not graduated
this made my day XDD
The moment you said that it is Plato's memory, it gave me goosebumps and whispered "wooow, genius work of art", I'm really astounded.
I used to mock people who spent hours in an art gallery, not understanding the depth, and this clarity in 2 mins is borderline breathtaking, time is an illusion, a lifetime has gone by and I was oblivious to the depth, thank you.
Check out the book, "Sister Wendy's story of painting". After a few readthroughs it will completely change your appreciation of art.
As someone who has always had trouble connecting with paintings, I found this be a fascinating and highly informative video.
Keep up the good work.
Glad it helped. I often have trouble too. That's why I did this.
Man! Learning is so awesome.
ikr
I come to this video every so often and leave in awe to come back again. Both the painting and the narration is a work of Genius.
Watching this with my three children for homeschool and then going to see it in person at the MET is hands down one of the most unforgettable lessons of our learning journey together!
This was so beautifully presented. The way you carry through the painting truly highlights the artist's feeling and drive. It honestly brought me to tears when you brought up the idea of Plato remembering this. I know very little of the men discussed but the painting and your clear explanation sparked my interest to learn more of them and their history. You are truly brilliant with every video.
+1
I welled up when the painter's first signature was pointed out. The painter, reaching for Socrates...
My jaw dropped when we suggested it might be a memory.
yesss when he was like "an explosion from the back his head.." bruhh i wasnt even ready
Andre, you seem to not be paying attention to the word "WAS".
I'm really curious as to what your major was in college
Film production.
+Nerdwriter1 Soundtrack for the ending of each Understanding Art video?
+Nerdwriter1 can i get the name of the piano song at the end ?
+Nerdwriter1 Majored in Film as well, love your stuff, takes me back.
+Nerdwriter1 It shows.
This is your best video as of yet... in my opinion. I come back here every so often to rewatch it and am still amazed and delighted, not only by the brilliant analysis itself but also the beautiful way it is presented in. Very gratefull
I have just found your channel and I am in Awe and in Love with it. I can't express how much this channel is exactly what I was looking for, and I am mesmerized by the quality of your videos and the topics addressed. I am by no means an arts student but this is a side passion and your videos on cinematography and painting are exactly what I was longing to see on youtube in such a long time. Thank you so much for this!
Sidenote: you have a very soothing voice and speaking pace, which adds to the calming experience of watching, understanding and being immersed in the world of understanding art. Now I am off to some long hours of catching up on all of your vids!
Excellent analysis! Excellently composed. It truly makes me admire how you actually wrote this. The structure, like the structure of the painting, ebbs through the interpretations with ease. If it were a paper for an art history class, I would imagine it would be looked on with praise.
I AGREE
Andre Maines You are a fool to believe your current set of moral values is applicable to someone 2000 years ago. All your moral values are heavily influenced by the people around you. If you were to live in Greek society in those days you would probably have two small boys as sex slaves while complaining that other people are denying the existence of the gods. Moral is a subjective set of social rules forced upon us by our will to fit in.
Andre Maines No i try to explain to you that it's crazy to apply your own current moral values upon historic society's. Of course I am not in favor of pedofelia because I live in 2018 and we know that this is both harmful and really traumatic to children. Greek society 's however had very different thoughts on this matter and raised their kids accordingly. If you were to be brought up in that kind of society you would be highly likely be in favor of the same moral values as your peers. Moral is a very subjective and ever changing phenomenon
@@koenvanseuren3249 Does morality change? Or does our interpretation of it change?
Maurits no need to use big words when you talk to make us like you, or else there’s more than one way how some guys talk, not just your own style, which is quite smooth as it is
2:20 that croped image makes socrates look like he's partying way too hard
No
Degenerate
quite frankly one of the most beautiful videos I have seen on here. the explanation giving us what we need and when, the way he highlights aspects of the painting as he goes on taking it apart so that we may see the bigger picture as a whole and the use of other paintings and types to further accentuate. ugh. marvelous I'm so glad I was put on this channel
I've watched this at least 10 or 20x in the past 8 years. It's become a comfort video for me. The sound, your voice, and the explanation is ASMR to me, if that makes sense. Thank you for helping me thru my anxiety.
The part about Plato and the memory he's having completely broke the genius level of depth. And I thought it was already cool af.
this is actually pretty mindblowing. Never been able to connect with paintings, but I kinda see the appeal to some people now^^
This is one of my favorite youtube videos. Something about it just brings me in everytime. I often come back and watch it
Absolutely beautiful, thank you for this.
This is the best piece of work I have every seen of you. To me personally, echoing memories of gymnasium classes in the classical culture and leaving me equally mesmerized.
Actually, Socrates, as he demonstrates in the dialogue "Crito", doesn't opt to drink the hemlock only because he wasn't afraid of death. A very important aspect of his decision was his firm belief that even if your state commits an act you deem unfair, you have no right not to obey the law of the land.
gijijijijijijijijijijji There was also the fact that he was a fairly old man for the time. Likely death was on his mind already.
Yes, he spent his last hours discussing with his friends about the immortality of the soul
gijijijijijijijijijijji s
And to that I would add that by not accepting exile he also pretended to make justice by not allowing the state to take the high road of letting him live. By his choice he judges and sentences the state for the crime of his execution.
Felipe Morales Protesting through obedience. That's kind of badass.
Meanwhile David was all like "Man would be p. cool to have a bald old guy at the end of the table here"
To paraphrase that one guy with the cigar, sometimes a painting is just a painting.
you do realize that an oil painting of that magnitude would literally take years to finish XD Oil artists can't afford to make random rash decisions, unless they're small details, in the middle of painting.
Purple Demon unless they're just awesome like that
yes, who doesn't like a bald guy at the end of the table.. that's common thing to do. lol...you are just dumb
it'd be out of place or take a lot of additional time, it's like throwing in a single noodle in the middle of boiling
Your explanation is amazing. During Lockdown I especially miss going to the museum and taking guided tours to get to know more about paintings. So that is a great substitute. Thank you!
My English teacher showed this video in class.
The grasping of the knee was a sign of submission and plea in ancient Greece since the Homeric Age.
Very good point, I had forgotten about that!
ErebosGR not always
*“It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.”*
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
That...was...Brilliant. Music really set your point at the end and almost brought me to tears when I finally felt what Plato felt. Thanks for teaching me!
First, I can't believe it has taken me this long to find and read this video. Second, the point made about Plato's memories and the connection between Socrates gesture with Plato's in the Academy is fascinating. Amazing!
God damn, i am gonna try and watch paintings a bit longer now
God bless!
This is so beautiful, such a personal account of a classic work of art.
Thanks, Joel.
Nerdwriter1 keep doing your thing sir, you're an inspiration. :-)
I agree. This is great!
For someone like me who is really distant from the art, it is fascinating to see the analysis of an art piece like this. There is a lot of thought and details going into paintings like this and although some of the ideas of Socrates (or Plato) may contradict the values of David he is still paying an homage to such an influential philosopher.
I love this video and series so much, I revisit it often. I hope to see nerdwriter make more such videos in the future, and I wouldn't mind if they were longer!
Meanwhile I'm over here thinking that the figure at the foot of the bed is Death- impartial, neutral (exemplified in his grey clothing), detached from everything else going on in the scene; not giving a flying fuck about everyone else- not Socrates' bravery or his cohorts' grief; others not seeming to be interacting with him either- as if he's not even there. Also with his hands folded and head bowed like that it seems to me as if he's waiting. Or musing over something. Or both.
Plato works too though I guess.
I totally agree! I made a quick sketch of this painting in PS and realised that the vanishing point in this painting is exactly set on the head of Death.
Plato is also symbolic of God in the style he is depicted. Perhaps the painter is making the statement that God himself would feel shame that his followers could decide the death of a keen and influential mind like Socrates, in his name nonetheless.
Sonata Tracey I thought the same!
Sonata Tracey I agree that the figure could very well represent death. After all, art is meant to be interpreted, and not one answer is correct. However the supposed Plato is looking down in anguish, to me it does not appear that he is indifferent. It is more that he is looking down and thinking, possibly about the death of the man the inspired him the most and one of his most noble moments.
Could it be that Plato is that young man giving the poison to Socrates? I guess, I should read about it. But the assumption about Plato being that old man sounds too strong too me.
This is one of the most amazing things I've seen wow there's so much to think about
Beautiful explanations of positioning, and a gorgeous thorough analysis throughout. Thank you for your work!
I absolutely love this, you deserve all the support in the world for such an amazing work!!
This painting just needs a "happy little tree". ; )
The Garlock Bob Ross! 😃
After listening to all the in depth opinions about this painting and reading the discussions it brought on about what ALL it could mean and maybe does mean...I absolutely adore your comment! Lol! It made me smile and think "these are my people"! Lol. I just so didn't get a lot of what all everyone was saying but your comment I did! Yay me! Lol! Thank you for that!
I really love your comment (unironically)
I have always loved Art History. A lot of what was mentioned here, I was taught similarly in a classroom but you took it so much further. When you got to the point about the scene seemingly exploding out the back of Plato's head and tied it to how we form and keep memories, how you took time to show the history depicted in the painting itself to the artist's own timeline and history... I believe that there are genius and genuine truth behind art, old and new, and discovering them is one of the best joys in life. Your videos, especially this one, contributed greatly to my happiness today. It was just so beautiful. Thank you.
Wonderful analysis. Thank you for sharing! Your ability to explain, and convey information is incredible and seems effortless.
The passion in your voice narrating the painting has me rooting love for art, more and more by each passing day senór.
I showed the "death of socrates" painting to my five year old nephew and asked him: "is this art?" He said yes. I showed him an Andy Warhol (Marilyn Monroe) and asked the same question. He responded by asking me "how long did it take to make this". I said probably a few hours and explained the process. He laughed and said "thats too easy...its not art...thats junkie art for crazy people". I try not to be an art snob, and attempted to explain to him that there are different kinds of art, pointed out that some great art can be done in a short time... but in my heart, I was agreeing with him. There is so much depth here. At the same time, I don't believe in 'authorities' as to what is art...its personal, but I don't think I will ever understand the fascination with most 'modern art.'
Ah, the wisdom of a child.
Slap Stick In defense of modern art, abstractions can be beautiful--and I like to think of it as how an artist will focus on an individual element or interplay of elements, shapes/form/geometry and the beauty therein. Kind of like a different way of storytelling.
In this case maybe Andy Warhol is the updated version of Rococo? :)
gennesis gastilo There is a'lot of beautiful abstract art with the characteristics you described... Also, if there is harmony, brush stroke quality, use of space, layers, and so on. But not much thought is put into a Warhol.
I've watched other videos showing how to read and interpret art, but definitely this narrator is my favourite as far. Really relaxing voice as well as keeping me awake throughout the entire speech. Great!
Beautifully beautifully done!! Great work
This is one of the best videos I have seen and I keep coming back to it. Simply awesome Nerd Writer. You analysis is par excellence.
Wow.
I've seen this painting many times before, but you've pointed out a feature that hadn't really occurred to me before.
If the figure at the foot of the bed is Plato, who was a youth when he followed Socrates and wrote in the Phaedo that he was absent from this scene, then this image is not just an improbable representation of Socrates' death, as I had previously read it.
With an old Plato sitting, looking away in meditation, this becomes a representation of Plato's own idealisation.
This painting is the Phaedo.
For me, that makes it much more interesting. It puts it in conversation with Plato's Cave (the Republic); with the experiential equivalence of dreams and reality (Theaetetus); with the self-conscious, meditative and dramatic exploration of philosophy (all of Plato's works). We almost see Xanthippe, waving farewell, as ascending an idealised stairwell that hints at the philosopher's ascent to the Good, the journey that the idealised Socrates is about to make.
That interpretation makes sense of the otherwise ridiculously ideal form of Socrates' geriatric body, of the histrionics of his friends and executioner, and of the very architecture, which is that of ashlar temple construction and not a humble prison.
Thanks for the video, very helpful!
I love the presentation. Great decision to use highlighting and shadowing to keep the focus on what you're discussing.
Reading this as Plato's engrossment of his teacher Socrates during his near ages is lovely ❤️
The fact that ive seen this so many times but never seen this with this perspective, literally a divine piece of art.
What a great breakdown! I fell in love with David's work back when I was in art school taking an art history class. To this day, i think David is one of the best painters of all time alongside Bouguereau, Delacroix and Rembrandt. This video took me back.
I was constantly reminded of your (updated) mission statement while watching this. The writing and editing is of course excellent... but what I love most about this video is that it really is a process of weaving various strands of knowledge into - as you described in your mission statement video - "a complex and comprehensive web."
The video began with a painting, but it was really only that to me: a painting. It wasn't until you exposed and explained the rich "interplay of historical, personal, political, and aesthetic elements" that I was able to weave an entire web into and around that very lonely (and relatively uninteresting) first strand. Not only was the process itself extremely rewarding, but the web that resulted was really, truly gorgeous. Consider my worldview cultivated.
P.S. You describe David's 'The Death of Socrates' as "an interplay of historical, personal, political, and aesthetic elements rendered forcefully, subtly, and beautifully." I submit to you that this would also as serve as a pretty damn good worldview.
This was great, I never thought I would get so emotional over an art analysis.
The first video I’ve watched of yours that got me to enjoy your page years ago. I always come back to it time after time to watch and appreciate how you break it down and open my eyes. Thanks man 👍🏽
P.S. I have a printed copy of it in my room because of Socrates, David, and you good sir.
Dude. All your analyses...they're so thorough, so informed... HOW?! What papers/books do you read?! I wanna be smart too!!!
Truly, though, I love all of your videos. They're great. Also, congrats on your new job with Discovery!
+Mr. Sir I'm certainly no NerdWriter, but college and books found in the annals of collegiate libraries....They'll bring you up to speed on a lot of things so long as you remain critical and read more than one opinion.
Thank you!
Brilliant, an absolutely brilliant video.
I can not tell you how much I enjoyed watching this.
Beautifully put. Congratulations and keep the good work!
I come back to this again and again and learn something new every time. Gold!!!
Brilliant examination and appraisal! Your focus on the KEY dynamics most relevant to the work, a minimalist & simple but significant explicate, made it instantly accessible and engaging. You steered clear of art-world-industry jargon, nothing clears out a room quicker than speaking in haughty alienating discipline-specific jargon. Your tutorial on 'art reading' technique were excellent, clear: The decoding of symbols, finding symbolism, the use of inference and deduction (gestures, color) to deepen understanding will no doubt encourage new art lovers and literacy.
I love that idea of a dream or memory of Plato, thank you for the insight!
This video makes me want to cry. We should be so thankful--grateful--for the gifts of our forebears, of the civilization around us that is now being so painfully destroyed by those who can't see the value in these centuries-old questions. Beautiful work.
Thank you for your enlightment interpretation. I am glad I found your channel!! All the best for you😀
I marveled in the parallel at 5:56 between Plato and Socrates in the School of Athens, wow!!
This is one of the best videos I have seen , absolutely amazing, although I love learning about the artist I have been searching for video that were more about the work itself, you have created a beautiful mix of both focusing mostly on the work, thank you 🙏
Just bout a year ago, I watched this, and now I'm back at it again. The Renaissance art is truly of depth and beauty, the most striking forms of art I've seen
one of my all-time favorites, this was an absolutely beautiful tribute.
This is beautiful, I would have never arrived to any of these conclusions on my own.
I would love to see this kind of analysis in more abstract or non-historical paintings
hahaha
What a wonderful explanation of the painting! Such great work of art!
the chills i got!!! this was absolutely amazing, loved it.
This was an amazing breakdown. The whole time I was like “whaaaat” and “woah”😂👏🏽well done
I think I'm in love. This channel represents everything I want a man to know and discuss with me. Be still my artistic heart!
+Nicole Marie Ok
Nikola Tesla That's a stupid thing to say lol
I know your comment is rather old and I don't want to seem like your average "neckbeard" citing the usual "omg im liek that girls jst don like nice guyz like me!!1!", and I also don't want to seem condescending / give you a feeling as if I see myself to be more mature or lecturing, but as I saw that your comment is one of the more liked and your words kind of do resonate a little with me, I felt the need to answer, because I do believe that you're tricking yourself with this.
See, you don't know much about this man, all we know about him is his youtube persona and that he possesses knowledge of art. For all we know he could be a racist, a criminal, or simply be citing things he heard throughout his education. As someone who does have a lot of contact to people like that I'd have to say: I've made a lot of bad experiences.
During my time in training, most people I found where either complete dunces, unaware and ignorant to anything that doesn't fit their ideals of what is and isn't good art and there were those who would consider only that which has been acknowledged by the majority to be worth their time at all.
These people could tell you the exact same thing that NW just did, they could analyze the painting and probably give some kind of opinion on it, but these aren't necessarily people I would like to socialize with nonetheless.
What I did find out though is that there has been much more room for discussion and interesting exchange of ideas in mixed groups of people, where there were also individuals many of my former classmates would consider "dunces".
I'm not getting to the point where I'd say "all those art-guys are snobs", no, what I'm getting at that I found individuals with a much more artistic spirit among all those different groups than there were densely packed in my art school (for a lack of a proper English term, sorry, it's not my native language). Simply because they had something I'd call "intellectual curiosity" and ofc humor.
I have a friend who literally told me of artistic value that's to be found in kids shows and parallels to that and major cult classics such as citizen kane, I know a man who, if you look at him, anyone would probably consider to be stuck up bureaucrat who, as a hobby sells abstract paintings for thousands of Euros.
Again, I do not want give the impression that I feel like I'd know better than you, specially when talking about what YOU want, but as someone who does feel familiar with your words, I just want to share with you my experience and that would be that as long as you stay open minded and look for open minded people instead of looking at who and what they are on paper, you'd be able to surround yourself with people you can discuss anything with you want with and come to a satisfying conclusion.
Pardon the wall of text.
What the hell?
Now I'm really interested, which kids shows?
Danny omg for someone who doesn't want to come off as condescending you sure come off as condescending. And you are being EXACTLY the 'girls don't like nice guys' person despite the fact you think you're escaping that by dressing it up. Why is it so hard to credit women with the intelligence to know what choices they're making? And why do you think a presumably grown woman saying 'a man thoughtfully discussing art is really hot' is a teaching opportunity?
Why do so many men presume that the fact that the women they like don't want to date them is because they, the man, is being misunderstood or their real self not seen by women? In fact women, by dint of socialisation, tend to be far more emotionally intelligent and socially perceptive than men.
You tell the OP off for fancying someone 'without knowing anything about them' and then produce a wall of text presuming to know her based on her single, short comment, and presuming that you have something to teach her. Grow up and stop treating women like children who need to be taught how to appreciate men better.
We're allowed to fancy who we want, it's got nothing to do with you.
Wonderful for the explanation of this beautiful painting.
Wow this has blown my mind, thank u for sharing this knowledge! very great video and narration and explanation
This is one of the best things I've ever seen on youtube. I have to say thank you.
Duuuuude I just discovered this video. I can't thank you enough for this. I need more, more and more of these.
very well analysed, deep and thoughtful interpretation and lovely editing, absolutely genius series and channel !!!
Beautifully told in absolute details