The Semi Formal Timeline of Art: Dionysian vs Apollonian

Modernism

A Semiformal Timeline of Art:

Apollonian vs Dionysian

Classical Era

The idea...

Brief History of the Terms:

• Idealized form associated with divine

• Energy in repose

• Elegant, balanced, structured pose

• Proportional in shape and structure

Winged Victory of Samothrace

References

Coined by philospher, Friedrich Nietzsche, both terms have come to represent two broad representations of the universe.

Apollonian representing: order, reason, harmonious, measured, or balanced in composition

Dionysian representing: instinctive, primitive, disorderly, random, or chaotic in composition

Now, without further adue I present...

Throughout history, art has acted as a pendulum, continuously innovating and adapting to the art forms and styles that came before. Furthermore, one theme discussed throughout the semester has been order versus disorder or rather Apollonian versus Dionysian. These ideas in a broad sense represent how we as humans can interpret our known universe. As time has progresssed though, humans have feuded over which is to be believed and thus each time period has distinct features that represent these ideas through art.

This presentation aims to exist as a brief timeline for major art periods discussed in class and their relation to either the Apollinian or Dianysian style.

Said timeline will not only explore and provide evidence into why each period should be classified as either Apollinian or Dianysian, but will also serve as a way analyze how modern came to be. Furthermore, evidence will be provided in the form of all arts, but primarily: painting, sculpting, literature, theatre, and music.

Additionally, it will serve to help create a theory of what type of art is likely to succeed the art we know today.

Classification: Apollonian

Famous Classical Artists

Classical Era

*Difficult to know most artists, but famous recorded artists are...

Summary

An Overview

• Phidias
• Lysippus
• Praxiteles

Despite having few advanced tools, Classical artists were able to sculpt elegant structures into their architecture . As seen by piece of a column decorated in flowers.

Famous Philosophers

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, January 23). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

The classical era in many ways represented the first time man took stock of it's power through science using proportion, becoming "the measurer" for the first time. This is reflected through the balance and proportion of it's art, particurally in archetecture but also in their thought and writings (via philosophy). The classical era would also serve as powerful reminder and source of inspiration in the next major era...

• Aristotle
• Pythagoras
• Aristachus

Classical Greek and Roman art are chalk full of attempts to represent the 'ideal man'. The man was seen as the measurer or eye/I of all things. Man's power was derived from being able to measure and replicate geometry as seen in the Colliseum's architecture.

Corinthian capital from the tholos at epidaurus. 4th century bce.

Hagesandros, Polydoros, and Athanadoros of Rhodes, Laocoön and His Sons.

Birth of Philosophy

Final Project

Ryan McFarlane

ILS 204: Discussion 305

What we now know as philosophy was a major development of the classical era. As seen before most of the most famous philosophers in recorded history come from this time period.

The Golden Mean

( 1000 BC - 300 AD )

A coin termed by the Roman Poet, Horace. Symbolizes the mean between two extremes, otherwise known as balance. Horace and Aristachus's teachings of the Golden Mean as a way of life had huge impacts in history, notably on Alexander the Great. The golden mean is also very telling of Apollonian qualities of classical life as a balance between extremes.

References

Niccolo Machiavelli's, "The Prince", 1513

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, February 2). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

Classification: Amplified Apollonian

Linear Perspective

Early example of the depth technique known as foreshadowing. Gives illusion of depth by changing light and shadows near objects closer to the viewer (in this example knees and elbows).

Renaissance

An Overview

• Physical world worth detailing

• Ecclectic style, mixing naturalism and idealism

• Humans are still focus

• Growing sense of individualism between artists

Sandro Botticelli, Primavera. early 1480s

One of the major advancements during the Renaissance was the use of linear perspective to create realistic environments in a 2 dimensional space. To acheive this artists use 3 main lines: horizon line, orthongals, and a vanishing point

Renaissance

Human in natural

form, but also proportional.

Resurgence of classical themes such as balance and unity.

A short book that critiques current rule and "informs" the nation of what makes a good a ruler. For example, suggests that rulers should be feared rather than loved and their primary concern

should be war to exert

said power. Exemplifies the

growing sense of

individualism

present in the Renaissance.

Arguably one of the most influential artistic eras, the Renaissance represents a resurgance of classical ideals. During the Renaissance, the physical world became worth detailing in intricate detail. Additionally, art became increasingly celebrated as people sought to become "l'uomo universale", retroactively named a "renaissance man". This time period is defined by it's accentution and innovation of the classical idealism mixed with new style of naturalism. Breakthroughs in representing the real world in a tw0-dimentional medium allowed for realistic paintings that would change the art landscape forever.

Leonardo Da Vinci, Vitruvian Man. ca. 1485–90

Donatello, David. 1440s.

Leonardo Da Vinci, Last Supper, ca. 1495–98.

Titian, Sacred and Profane Love. ca. 1514

Summary

Famous Renaissance Artists

*Note: this is an extremly constrainted list

With new tools and techniques at their disposal artisans from the Renaissance took inspirtation from classical art and accentuated every aspect. The Renaissance not only encapsulates man the as measure/measurer of all things, but does so in a way that makes art enthralling. The classical style mixed with a new interest in naturalism pushed Renaissance art into an acceptable and valued profession, which allowed for a new sense of individualization and would set the stage for later art movements.

( 1300 - 1600 )

• Raphael
• Michaelangelo
• Sandro Botticelli
• Donatelo
• Leonardo Da Vinci
• Filippo Brunelleschi
• Caravagio
• Giotto
• Titian

Qualities:

-Chatoic in nature, people are everywhere!

-Uplifting experience, meant to place s0meone outside of themself

-Explotion of lines and color

-Structured in archetecture, but also a sense of instability and emptiness of space in some areas

Fra Andrea Pozzo, Apotheosis of Saint Ignatius. 1691–94.

Classification: Dionysian

Baroque Music

Summary

Very uplifting in tone, but also can be emotional, energetic, and moving. There's a sense of complexity that speaks to the Dionysian style as well. A inner sense of vastness, that you are both here, but not here at the same time... Contradictory, but true.

Example of Tenebrism

As the first example of the Dionysian on this timeline, the Baroque era still has some sense of order to it. However, the inner passion and sense of emotion that these pieces were meant to evoke overpower it's few Apollonian qualities. Additionally, this style of emotional, dynamic, and realistic art will serve as inspiration for the Romantic era. However, first we must take a look at a different era, the...

Vivaldi, Four Seasons, 1723

Caravaggio, The Calling of Saint Matthew. ca. 1599–1600.

Michelangelo, Last Judgment. 1534–41

Baroque

Baroque

An Overview

References

In many senses, the Baroque style was a tool used by the Roman Catholic church to display God's power. By creating pieces of art, archetecture, and music that are overwhelming in design, the observer experiences ecstacy. These moments place the observer outside themselves in moment of uplifting emotion that allows the observer to reflect on themselves and God's innate power over them. Although Mannerist art was a slow transition from Renaissance towards the Dionysian, Baroque art is the establishment of art into the Dionysian realm. This is exemplified by Baroque's tendency to: be emotional intensity, representations of dynamism and instability, and use an explosion of lines and color meant to fill space.

Example of a moment of both spiritual and sexual/physical ecsacy. Displaying this type of pleasure was a first for the Catholic Chruch

Dionysian aspects:

-Energy in repose: David could fling stone at any moment, it's a moment of uncertainty.

-Contour of body illustrates the human body's complexity.

-Very dynamic by nature of the posture and positioning.

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, February). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

Gianlorenzo Bernini, David. 1623.

Gianlorenzo Bernini, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Cornaro Chapel, Santa maria della Vittoria, Rome. 1647–52.

( Late 1500's - 1750 )

Jacques-louis david, The Oath of the Horatii. 1784–85

Summary

Classification: Apollonian

Jacques-louis david, The Tennis Court Oath. 1789–91

Pierre-Alexandre vignon, la madeleine, Paris. 1806–42.

The Oath of the Horatii shows the neoclassical interest in revisting the aesthetic that made the classical era so interesting. This resurgence of classical ideas is the heart of neoclassic style.

Motivated to be the cultural center of the world, art epicenters such as Paris and London lead the resurgence of the classical style during the Age of Exploration. Heroism and order dominated art the scene, especially in France. Yet, with this resurgence of the Apollonian style in the neoclassical era, came a desire for something different. Something that would shift the pendulum fully into the Dionysian...

Another vital part of the neoclassical style was the battle between Paris and London to see which city would be new "wonder of the world". The classical aesthetic is put on display in this neoclassic era church located in Paris.

Wrapped into the feud between London and Paris was the idea of Absolutism, which sometimes bled into art (especially neoclassic art). Absolutism was essentially the idea of an absolute ruler or monarch ruling over a nation. Democracy therefore was and still is a direct challenge to Absolutism. Above is a very pro-absolutism depiction of Napolean Bonaparte from the end of the neoclassical era.

Jacques-louis david, Napoleon Crossing the Saint-Bernard. 1800–01

Apollonian Qualities:

-Space is filled, but is also orderly. All the figures are in lines

-Use of linear perspective to add depth

-The space is very proportional, there isn't a particular space with more or less people (besides the middle).

-The raising of hands creates a sense of unity, especially since the focal point is in the middle of frame.

-The focal point in the middle gives the piece a sense of balance, stability, and proportion. Rather than having the focal point in a random location...

Neoclassical

John Trumbull, The Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776. 1786–97.

Neoclassical

An Overview

Famous Neoclassical Artists

*Disclaimer: Not full list

Perhaps one of the most defining qualities of art during the Age of Exploration was the feud between neoclassical ("new-classical") style and an emerging Romantic style of art. The main difference being neoclassical art perceiving emotion and a threat to stabilty and health of society, whereas romantics viewed human passion and emotion as part of being human. Furthermore, as neoclassical artists revisit themes like balance and unity it's only natural it's classified as Apollonian.

- Jacques-Louis David

- Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

-Angellica Kauffman

-Elisabeth Vigree Le Brun

-Fredrich Leighton

References

( 1660- 1800 )

Jacques-louis david, The Lictors Returning to Brutus the Bodies of His sons. 1789.

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, February 28). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

References

Francisco Goya, The Third of May, 1808. 1814–15

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, March ). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

The Timeline

Romanticism

An Overview

Romanticism

Uncoincidentally the Romantic era found it's start in poetry, an art form capable of connecting with deep emotion. The purpose of creating art shifted from the neoclassical style of creating order and heroism to attempting to evoke emotion and create emotional appeal. In doing this many artists developed a sublime nature that would be important for the Romantic era and beyond.

Dionysian Qualities:

• No particular focus, captures a landscape rather than object, person, or thing

• Blurry, not meant to accurately depict the land

• Beauty of land is used to create emotional appeal

The "Romantic Hero" was one that was often:

• Lost in thought
• Looked inwards towards themselves
• Provoked by existentialism

W. Turner, The Upper Falls of the Reichenbach. ca. 1810–15.

Summary

Classification: Amplified Dionysian

Excerpt from: William Wordsworth, “Tintern Abbey” (1798)

The Romantic era was inspired by a new wave of Dionysian existentialism. Art was no longer a way to represent reality, but a way to connect with a person's sense of emotion. To do this artists focused less on order and as a result art became less structured. In retrospect this era gave birth to many of the timeless classics making it a noteable era no doubt.

Landscape Paintings

Famous Romantic Artists:

( 1785 - 1850 )

"Five years have passed; five summers, with the length Of five long winters! and again i hear These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs With a soft inland murmur. —Once again

do i behold these steep and lofty cliffs, That on a wild secluded scene impress Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect The landscape with the quiet of the sky."

• Francisco Goya
• J.M.W. Turner
• Casper David Friedrich
• William Blake
• Henry Fusali

During the Romantic era depicting landscapes became particularly popular. In this sense, the construction of the pyramids is portrayed in a sublime way. The sublime style in this particular painting is created using darker colors and using the clouds to blur some areas of the painting.

Hubert Robert, Pyramids. 1750

William Blake, Isaac Newton, 1795

Realism

An Overview

Charles Dickens

Realist art developed during a tumultous era. Many cities struggled with plague, social unrest, and class struggles. In many ways Realist art developed as a response to Romantic art. Furthermore, Realist artists viewed Romanticism as radical and deviant. As a result, Realism had concepts such as hierarchy and order instillled into it.

Dicken's books have come to represent the Realist/Victorian Era.

References

Realism

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, March 15). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

Proletariat VS Bourgeoisie

Both terms are derived from Karl Marx's famous "Commuist Manifesto". The growing Proletariat (middle, working class) population began to threatan the bourgeoisie (high class). This feud would go on to dominate much of the social unrest, and thus also influence the art of this era.

Gustave Courbet, The Stonebreakers. 1849 (Salon of 1850–51)

Apollonian Qualities:

• Focus on the Individual
• Captures exact moment in time
• Instills sense of Natural Social Order

Ernest Meissonier, Memory of Civil War (The Barricades). 1849 (Salon of 1850–51)

Summary

Eastman Johnson, Negro Life in the South (Kentucky Home). 1859

( 1800 - Late 1800's )

Realist Art and the Victorian Era served as a way to reject the emotional appeal of the Romantic era. Social unrest and upheaval made for the perfect subject for Realist artists to depict some of the more gruesome aspects of life such as violence and death.

Classification: Apollonian

Features of Realist Art:

• Social Unrest
• Makes Poltiical Statement
• Heroism/Death
• Man in the new "Industrial World"
• Subjective

Eugène Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People. 1830.

Édouard Manet, Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (Luncheon on the Grass). 1863.

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, The Vow of Louis XIII. 1824

Classification: Dionysian

Impressionism

Claude Monet, The Regatta at Argenteuil. ca. 1872

Impressionism

Famous Impressionist Artists

Overview

- Claude Monet

-Pierre-Auguste Renoir

-Edouard Manet

-Paul Cezanne

-Mary Cassatt

-Berthe Morisot

During the mid to late 1800's "en plein air", or in "open air" painting became popular (due in large part to the invention of metallic paint tubes). In "en plein air" painters (later deemed impressionists) would abandon studios in favor of creating quick sketches of nature. These paintings were meant to capture an exact moment in time in nature and therfore had to be done quickly. Additionally, many of these painting delve into the prismatic effects of light, which often create very unique, seemingly random light-effects. As you will see, the natural style of this type of painting place it firmly within the Dionysian realm as celebration of nature, instinct, and passion uproot order and reason.

Berthe Morisot, Summer’s Day. 1879

Dionysian Qualities:

• Celebration of Nature
• Water, animals, ripple effect
• Evokes sense of wholeness
• Not intended to be a clear picture of reality.
• Seemingly random brush strokes create blur effect.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Oarsmen at Chatou. 1879.

Robert Koehler, The Strike. 1886.

Due to Impressionist's natural affinity to be outdoors, most (but not all) Impressionist pieces depict natural landscapes.

The other common subject matter for Impressionists was crowd painting. These scenes were equally hard to capture as artists were essentially trying to take a manual photograph of a crowd at specific moment.

( 1860-1890 )

Summary

Techniques of "En Plein Air"

-Hatching: slash marks

-Cross-hatching: x-marks/intersections

-strippling: tiny dots

-graffito: scratching

-scrumbling: pushing brush down and rubbing

References

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, April 2). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

With new tools, Impressionist painters took to the outdoors to find the subject of their pieces. Exploration both on and off the canvas resulted in new painting techniques and a new outlook on the world. Exploration would serve to be an essential part of the rest of timeline, making Impression a very important pre-modern era.

References

Classification: Amplified Dionysian

Many Modernist pieces speak to issues of commodification not only in art, but in general as well. These existential gestures suggest a more unified art form in comparison to what will come next...

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, April). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

Duane Hanson, Supermarket Shopper. 1970

Modernism

An Overview

Commercialization

As the 19th century came to a close, what is retroactively coined as Modernism began. In short, Modernism was an explosion of several art styles and forms including, but not limited to: Expressionism,Void and Absurdism, Existentialism, Pointilism, Pop Art, and many more. Since many of these art forms developed during what we've now know as the "Modern Era" for the purpose of clarity and brevity it's often described as Modern Art or Modernism. Within this segment of the timeline we'll explore a little bit about how some of these art styles make Modern art one of the most clearly Dionysian styles to date.

As reproduction technology advanced and commodification of art became popularized after World War II, art has increasingly become more about replication. This "factory mentality" lead to the rise of art forms such as Pop Art, where high standard art can be replicated and sold with ease. However, it has also leaked into mainstream art as now part of art is the "experience" of you interacting with that piece.

Dionysian Characteristics of...

Pop Art

Surrealism

Pointilism

Andy Warhol, Benz Racing Car, 1986

Pablo Picasso, Girl Before a Mirror. 1932.

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Georges Seurat, 1884

• No sense of reality
• Reflects state of intoxication
• Irrational and Emotinal

• Sense of reality is distorted as observer moves closer
• Representation of Nature
• Not meant as accurate portrayal of reality

• Art as a commodity, originality is not a necessicity
• Meant to be consumed quickly rather than absorbed
• Subject is chosen based on what ever object is front of the artist, rather than created to prove a larger point about religion or self.

Summary

Surrealist Example

Despite being characterized by several art styles and techniques, Modernist Art is unified by it's clearly Dionysian characteristics. Modernist Art has shaped the landscape of much of recent history, however as we've seen that landscape is constantly changing. As the pendulum continues to swing back and forth, Post-Modern Art should return back towards Apollonian...

Franz Marc, The Large Blue Horses. 1911

( 1890 - Today )

Theatre of the Absurd

The Theatre of the Absurd is a genre of theaticral plays in which the plot is irrational, random, or in some cases there is no plot. One example of this is Samuel Beckett's, "Waiting for Godot" (1953). In the play, two characters wait for Godot to tell them their purpose, the "plot" is literally them waiting for Godot. Although there are a few moments the characters attempt to take action they are more or less waiting in the same place the entire play. The message being that if one is to wait for their purpose to drop into their lap they'll never find it. The Theater of the Absurd is just another example of Dionysion Modernist art is.

Another exemplary Dionysian piece

Dionysian Qualities of Modern Era music...

Action Painting

Much like paintings, music was also impacted by the increasing commodification of art. As a response, music increasingly became more about the experience and spontaneity. One music style that exemplifies this is Jazz, which often contains spontaneous add-ins depending on how the artist(s) choses to play.

Jackson pollock, Number 27. 1950.

Salvador Dalí, The Persistence of Memory. 1931

Action painting is yet another example of how Modern Art reflects the Dionysian. Popularized by Jason Pollock, action painting is essentially dripping and splattering paint over a canvas at random. By painting "in the moment" action paintings are created at the whims of how the artist is feeling at that exact moment in time. There is no order or rationale, it's simply how the artist feels throughout the course of creating the painting.

Anthropocentric vs Ecocentric

References

Another consequence of the Post-Human is the question of whether humans should be classified as just another animal. For example, in the Anthropocentric view the human has surpassed other species as an intelligent life form, establishing a new peg on the chain of being. On the other hand, the ecocentric view has the human as equal among other species on Earth. These viewpoints bring up very interesting questions about the responsbilities humans have on the mutual environment we share. Order and reason clash with nature and primitivism in this argument.

The Prediction...

Sayre, M., H. Discovering the Humanities, 3/e. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133912999/

Vanden Heuval, M. (2019, April 20-27). ILS 204: Literature and the Arts II. Lecture presented in Noland Zoology Building, Madison.

Post-Humanism

Throughout this timeline a recurring pattern has occurred time and time again. As time has progressed art has constantly changed from one end of the Apollonian-Dionysian spectrum to the other, each time swinging a little further. One of the major themes of this class has been that art as well as our beliefs are always changing. Furthermore, it makes sense then that art would act as a pendulum constantly shifting towards two ends of the same spectrum.

Post Humanism refers to enhancments of the human body (typically using technology) to essentially create a more advanced species. Using things such as: AI symbioses, neural interfaces, prostheses, etc... The human would essentially become a different species. In the sense that technology was involved humans would become cybernetic organisms - cyborgs.

These enhancements would essentially make the world easier for humans to understand. Technology and science are inherently Apollonian by their nature of preferring reason and order. Therefore, by that logic creating a fusion between humans and technology to help humans reason and rule the planet would be Apollonian in nature as well.

Based on this idea and using the fact that Modern Art had the most Dionysion characteristics to date it would make sense for Post-Modern Art to be significantly Apollonian. Furthermore, this theory is supplemented by technological advancements in computers and AI which are based on sequences of 1's and 0's. Knowing that the Apollonian is based around rationale and logic these advancements seem to nod to the Post-Modern Era being the most Apollonian to date. Throughout this part of the timeline evidence will be shown to prove this theory...

Anthropocentric vs Ecocentric

Another discussion we had during lecture revolved around the evolution and increasing responsibility humans have on Earth. For example, in the Anthropocentric view humans as the

Summary

The Conclusion

Despite it being difficult to predict the future, after analysis it's clear that the Post-Modern Era will likely be heavily Apollonian in nature. The Apollonian qualities may be masked by the technological advancements of the era, but nonetheless it's distinct qualities will be derived from Apollonian qualities.

Apollonian Qualities of a Computer controlled Post-Modern Era

Computers are binary in nature, created by 1's and 0'. Furthermore, as technology advances it becomes more effective at sorting complex information by literally ordering sequences of ones and zeroes. Therefore, just by the nature of technology, advancements would essentially be creating very complex algorithms to order inputs and make decisions (outputs). By breaking down this process it's easy to see the Apollonian qualities of reason, order, and structure at the foundation of technology, specifically computers and AI.

Through this timeline it has become clear that humans have a tendency to act in a pendulum. In many ways there's always been a duality to human existence; two sides of the same coin, if you will. Using this idea allows us to make educated predictions on what will come in the future, especially in terms of art and the way society thinks. Approaching the future with these ideas in mind not only allows society to better understand the past, but also understand how it impacts the future. Throughout this semester it has been a pleasure to learn more about art and the human understanding of the world. Portraying these ideas through the framework of the Apollonian and Dionysian concepts in this timeline has been worth every second.

Post-Modernism

Post-Graffiti

Another example of Post-Modern art is Post-Graffiti. Post-Graffiti in short is the updating of pre-existing graffiti often times to appropriate to new circumstances. By appropriating old art to make new commentary, Post-Graffiti artists such as Banksy are able to commemorate the old, but also make powerful statements about the present.