How Does Art Mirror Society?

The piece of art I have chosen is "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp" by Rembrandt, this is an oil on canvas painting, painted in 1632. This painting shows what is happening during the renaissance by showing the ordinary people looking over the shoulder of a scientist dissecting a body. This only started to happen during the renaissance, and this shows the people's reaction to it. The facial expressions of the scientist show that he is showing the group of eager people what he's doing. Everyone is looking very excited like they are new to this subject. The man who's doing the dissection shows that he is practiced at this art.

Driving Forces of the Renaissance

Rediscovery of ancient knowledge was the main driving force of the renaissance because the rediscovery is what gave the people the knowledge and attitude for exploration, architecture and science so that they could improve their world.

Matlida Bone

The historical fiction novel Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman takes you on a journey to the Middle Ages to experience the views on medical practice, Religion and hygiene. Medical practice in the middle ages involved Astrology and a lot of sometimes ridiculous superstitions and "potions". Also involved in medical practice was religion, the main religion of Medieval Britain was Christianity. Latin was used a lot by priest and so priests were very respected. A thing that was lacking in the middle ages is a sense of hygeine, chamber pots were thrown into the street, people put dung on their teeth to fix a toothache and barbers would saw of your leg just as soon as they would trim a beard. Life in the Middle Ages would have been a very unclean life and I am surprised that they even lived at all.

Schmuel's Point of View

I slowly staggered across the muddy ground and saw a boy crouching in the spot where I usually sit. Except something was different. The boy wore new clothes and was short and fat. Another thing about this boy, I realised, was that he was on the other side of the fence. I stopped and almost toppled over as a small gust of wind blew into me. The boy looked up, and gave me a half smile. I cautiously sneaked up to the boy and for a while we simply stared at each other. Then he told me his name was Broo-no, I looked at Broo-no quizzically, and thought, "what kind of a name is that?" I swayed uncertainly and Broo-no informed me that I should sit down or "I might just collapse". Just as I moved to do so, I slipped on the mud and did what Broo-no said I was going to do and crashed in a heap on the floor. Broo-no screamed out in laughter with tears streaming down his face. I looked around sourly and asked Broo-no if he could spare me some food, he stared into his pockets and told me that he didn't have any and my mood dropped even lower. My longing for food and someone to talk to compelled me to continue on talking to this annoying boy, Broo-no. He started talking about his 'terrible' house that only had three floors on his side of the fence. My mind drifted off and my eyes wandered towards his shiny boots. I thought they were quite nice but I would never be able to wear these, the soldiers would shoot me as soon as they saw them. Also this boy did not seem the generous kind and would not share his hidden food and definitely not his lovely boots.

Source for Picture: http://blogs.theage.com.au/schembri/boy1.jpg

WEB QUEST

Click on Education: for students, then click Early stages of persecution.
What is anti-Semitism?
What are the Nuremberg Laws?
Now click on the first concentration camp.
Look at the picture, how does it make you feel?
Scroll down and look at the map,
How are the concentration camps placed? Why in these areas?
Where and what is Flossenbürg?
Now click on “Murder of the Disabled”, still in education for students.
What does Euthanasia mean?
How did the Nazis get the mothers and fathers of disabled children to allow their children to be killed?
How does this “project make you feel?