Renaissance

Introduction:

                                                             speed facts about Renaissance

If the video doesn't work click on the link :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mgSPiAiBjU

NEW THEORIES from this period

Man defined as the centre of the world –this idea converted into a system for measurement and representation of space

Knowledge in geometry, astronomy, physics, anatomy andgeographywere widely practiced

New concept of spatial relationships with the use of perspective (introduced about 1425)

Pythagoras's theory -musical intervals in harmony were exactly proportionalto numbers in physical dimensions

Music and architecture were mathematically related

Building dimensions representative of laws of nature and of God. A perfectly proportioned building -a reflection of God in man.

First i want to know about the difference between a building built during the renaissance period and the gothic period.

Renaissance architecture:
The arches used what is called a "key stone." The key stone was always placed at the top of arches and was larger than the other stones in the arches. Arches were rounded at the top. Buildings were always symmetrical. In the renaissance architects used the three styles of columns they borrowed from the Greeks -Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

Gothic architecture:
The Gothic arches have a distinct peak at the top of the arch. The design of buildings was asymmetrical. Often the number of spires that were often used in Gothic building was different on one side of an entrance than on the other.


Reflection
So, today i am supposed to talk about the renaissance period.

During the renaissance period, there were many notable men that has been made famous for their own contributions and ideas during that period. However, today i want to talk more about Leonardo da Vinci . Period. I like him not because he is so famous this and that but i really respect this guy . If given the chance i would love to meet him in person cause he is just so so creative. I really wonder how did that guy think? How did his brain work so well that he came up so many different yet wonderful things?

An introduction to Da vinci works.


This is an animation of his notebook drawings. Of how he viewed the world and  his ideas.
If this video doesn't work click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEQtG1JW-7U

People say that in your life you can only have one carer, the most two but duing his life he was a  polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and a writer. That's 14 different links .Wow.

AND he managed all that even though he was barred from education,learning greek and latin which was the common language in books during that time.

What i liked about him was that he dared to be different. Impossible ideas seemed to be I am Possible ideas for him. What were the usual normal routine he changed it,improved it and made it different. ( like how he used oils instead of water for paint) However i find that the society that he lived in that time was very complicated. In fact the city was infamous for its homosexual culture but it was ILLEGAL. kinda odd but it does reflect some issues that some countries are facing) Dealth was the penalty. I wonder if he lived now, what ideas would he have come up with what creative discovery would he make considering that during his time, he was well ahead of the 'world'. The world had to catch up with him and its astonishing that his ideas during that time (had he had the capacity and support) they were viable. Meaning that they were ideas that actually worked.

I can't remember when but i went to Science center a 2-3 years back and there was an exhibition ,something like the showcase of what Da vinci did. However, no pictures were allowed for taking so i managed to find a video that showed what were some of the things i saw in that showcase.

This is a video that shows the concept of Da vinci's suba diving suit. He envisioned man to walk underwater and i think that if this was made during that time it would have been another war tactic that would have shocked enemies.

If the link does not work click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzglSdu120c&feature=related

Even though Da vinci was a well known painter, he left a large number of work about the human body. I saw some of the copies of the sketches. They were very detailed and his ideas were accompanied by vast amounts of sketches. Even though he was condammed, he still took great pride in his work. If it was me, I would have never ever think of doing this. The smell of a my dog's shit is enough to deter me off much less the smell of a decaying corpse. To me, it demonstrates how far he would go to obtain the information he wanted. I cannot imagine myself prodding a dead body with a dim light. I would start thinking about ghosts for sure! I wonder why he wasn't scared about that. Perhaps his need for answers drove his fears away.

I find that his assistant would have been a poor fellow as he had to accompany his teacher!

If this link does not work click : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgLTMzmy9o8&feature=related

This video is about the parachute that he is in his sketches.
To think that even if there is a hole in the middle of the parachute, it still works!

If this link does not work click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp5435BYE3M&feature=related

This is a video that i saw during the showcase, it shows soldiers doing his idea of a war machine which is a something similar to today's tank.

If this link does not work click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va-tNdVBtDc&feature=related

These are some of ideas he had. I would think that there may be more but we may never know cause he was so secretive!

The Gothic period

If you don't want to read and want quick information click on the link below if the video doesn't work :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLQMiDsL1po

Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture.

Gothic architecture was known during the period as "the French Style,with the term Gothic first appearing during the latter part of the Renaissance.

Characteristics of Gothic churches and cathedrals : 

The building plans always looked like a cross :

For the structure :

the pointed arch,

Functionality: The structural advantage is that the pointed arch channels the weight onto the bearing piers or columns at a steep angle. This enabled architects to raise vaults much higher than was possible in Romanesque architecture

Height and vertical emphasis : The pointed arch lends itself to a suggestion of height. This appearance is characteristically further enhanced by both the architectural features and the decoration of the building.

On the exterior, the verticality is emphasised in a major way by the towers and spires and in a lesser way by strongly projecting vertical buttresses, by narrow half-columns called attached shafts which often pass through several storeys of the building, by long narrow windows, vertical mouldings around doors and figurative sculpture which emphasises the vertical and is often attenuated.

It would have been the tallest building during that time giving people an empowering feel when they were at the building.
As seen by the image on your left.

the flying buttress

A further development was the flying buttress which arched externally from the springing of the vault across the roof of the aisle to a large buttress pier projecting well beyond the line of the external wall. These piers were often surmounted by a pinnacle or a statue, further adding to the downward weight, and counteracting the outward thrust of the vault and buttress arch as well as stress from wind loading.

Vaults

The increase in size between windows of the Romanesque and Gothic periods is related to the use of the ribbed vault, and in particular, the pointed ribbed vault which channeled the weight to a supporting shaft with less outward thrust than a semicircular vault. Walls did not need to be so weighty they wanted a light feeling to buildings.

Windows:

 Through the Gothic period, due to the versatility of the pointed arch, the structure of Gothic windows developed from simple openings to immensely rich and decorative sculptural designs. The windows were very often filled with stained glass which added a dimension of colour to the light within the building, as well as providing a medium for figurative and narrative art. Rose windows are also often found in the facades of churches of Spain and Italy, but are rarer elsewhere and are not found on the facades of any English Cathedrals

If my house and room was decorated this intricate it would be too weird, everything would be in black or dark colours. It would have been depressing for me i like bight colours. Influcenced my my parents i prefer things plain oddly hoever. the only thing from gothic period would be lace! I think the place would be too spooky for my liking.

Gothic fonts :

A heavy typeface with very broad counters and thick ornamental serifs.

Gothic clothes: 

Traditional period Goth garb usually consists of mostly black clothing along with some white and are often accessorized with silver or pewter. The stereotypical gothic outfit sometimes referred to as the romantic look may include elaborate gowns and corsets, veils, full skirts, neck corsets, fishnets, lace and velvets. Also popular are tight-fitting trousers, pointy boots, flouncy poet or pirate shirts and footwear with buckles.

Reflections:There is a Catholic church that was near my grandmother's church. It is quite old and i went there to take a look. I think it has many gothic characteristics. Here are some of the images i took:

Here are some of the windows that i took. The church is old and to me i think this is the main highlight of the church because its so beautiful. The reason behind it was because light shone through the windows, and you could see different colour beams of light on the floor . And this is only just 5 windows. Imagine the churches in other countries! They have so many stained glass windows.It makes me want to visit the other gothic chruches in other countries.

Below is a statue of Jesus. I think the reason why the church used the red and blue in the windows, Red symbolise Jesus and Blue Mother Mary.  Blue is calming but i wonder why didnt they use the colour white for Mother Mary? From what i know, she was a virgin when she had Jesus and white symbolises purity so why not white?

 This is what i see when i go inside the church.Vaults spotted!

The pointed edges of the church

Personally i find that it is such a shame that these beautiful buildings are no longer built in singapore today. Nowadays, people prefer the modernlist look of chruches or it could be that Singapore has very little land space, perhaps it cannot afford to have churches being built like that.Such a shame, churches should have the churches feel you know?

When i think about the Gothic period i ALWAYS think about the clothes because i find they are oh-so-georgeous to look at but not to wear. hahahha, I cannot imagine myself everyday wearing a tight fitting corset. I love comfort too much. I love the inticate details on the clothes,and i find that clothes made during that time seems to be closely related to the Romantic (Victorian, Elizabethan, Renaissance). Also to wear such clothes would be so hot ( i think it won't be suitable for singapore's weather the humidity omg i would feel so sticky.

Gothic is still present in today.There is a subculture called goths.They dress gothic and have a reigion of it. It is also reflected in today's japanese comics called manga. People can cosplay in gothic clothes like the lolita dress. Gothic movies are also present like director,drawer : Tim Burton. Have you watched a movie directed by him before? I like his style. Gothic but not too scary like too gory or too much blood. Its hilarious ,black humor really and the characters have a sense of innocence behind their pale faces.He did alot of films: Alice in wonderland, Corspe bride being my favourite.

First Post

Okay, this will be my first post of the day :)
I'll keep it short simple and sweet.Basically I will be keeping an online journal cause i find that it is a better media cause i can add videos or links to the topic that i find myself relating to (For example Gothic =
Gothic people today) and its also easily accesible , I can do at home and in school plus i won't have to worry about my journal getting lost :)
SO thats it :)
sarah out ~