Lascoux Cave Paintings & how it relates to the people

 1a) These cave paintings depicted major aspects of their lives. Their paintings primarily consisted of animals, which were a main source of food for them and it was who those humans shared their habitat with. Some of these animals may have also held religious significance in rituals or prayers, so painting them could have been a way of expressing their religion.

1b) The humans knew themselves and their community but were surrounded by countless species of animals that the humans had no way of communicating with. They shared the land as their home, but there was no significant connection between the animals and humans other than that. The paintings of the animals could have been a way for the humans to feel on the same level as the animals, as the animals now watched over them as they slept and life progressed. 

1c) These cave paintings showed how their social structure worked, as the thousands of paintings across the cave were likely created by nearly every person in the community. This could suggest a more egalitarian social structure, which is supported by our recent assignment which showed that smaller tribes/groups typically were more egalitarian. 

1d) Many painting materials would fade after a short of time or not be easy to work with, so only specific materials could be used. As these people didn’t have access to shipping services or transportation that could provide goods from other regions, they were limited to painting with whatever they could find. Additionally, they needed good lighting to paint, as they were deep in the caves and had no natural lighting. This could mean torches, but in smaller sections of the cave with low ventilation, the smoke created by a fire could prove fatal quickly. While they were not aware of the dangers of breathing carbon dioxide from fires, these people likely recognized the association with them getting sleepy, short of breath, and nauseous, whenever they were in a small room of the cave with a fire. 

1e) These cave paintings could be used for spiritual or religious ceremonies, where the paintings showed some sort of respect for their habitat or a higher power. They could also teach the young about their environment and what food was edible or poisonous, as well as which animals were friendly or dangerous. Instead of taking their children out into the wild, which could be very risky given that they lived amongst plenty of dangerous animals, they could be taught these skills from a young age, then once they’ve matured they could venture outside. The artwork may have also been a form of community bonding, if everyone worked together on the artwork, it could bring them together and everyone would form a connection with the other people in their community.

2) I’d argue that the biggest connection between the Lascaux Cave Art and all the various forms of modern art is how it relates to the lives of the artists. All art is created and shaped by how an artist’s life has played out. Even in a painting that was all black or white, an artist’s upbringing is part of the story of that piece and is partially what inspired them to create the piece. Just as the paintings of animals were reflective of the lives of those who lived in the Lascaux cave, paintings within the past few centuries are about the lives of the artists and what they see, hear, feel, or think about life. Art was and will always be a way of expressing yourself, so it is a timeless way of preserving what life and culture were like in the past. 

3a) Architecture is a very practical form of art, in that it both provides a building for humans and is a form of art. Architecture can blend into the landscape seamlessly and not seem like art, whereas if you saw a painting, you’d likely immediately think of other works of art. The architect has a very important job of creating a design for a building that is useful but also expresses their flair. 

3b) I don’t think that there is a complete culture surrounding architecture, as it is seen globally and isn’t tied to one specific language, country, culture, or group of people. However, it could also be argued that the culture that practices architecture is humans since we don’t see it displayed in any other species of animals. Plenty of animals can paint, sing, or create other forms of art, but no other animal designs homes with specific themes that are shared globally. 

3c) Being that architecture is how we create our homes, workplaces, and shops, it is a very important tool for society. We could make buildings that are rectangles, a single color, and have one giant room, but that is still a form of architecture. Architecture is engrained in all forms of building no matter how simple or complex. I think that for many people, architecture can be used to boost their moods and make their environments prettier. Whenever I see a gorgeous house or building, I will drop whatever I’m doing and admire it, which is always a small part of my day that I can happily reflect on. It could be argued that architecture drives up the prices of homes and makes them less accessible to people in the lower/middle class, but I don’t believe it has a significant effect on the house’s price. Even if you turn the house into a rectangle, most of the cost will still be materials and construction, not the design of said rectangle. Especially nowadays with computers and architecture software, it is becoming a more accessible form of art and has less of an impact on home prices.