Alternatives Summary

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http://suseannasophia.blogspot.com/
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Nathan’s alternative point was a clear description of how the architecture during this time period had a shift from being secularly motivated to being oriented more around spiritual design. I also appreciate how he was able to connect this to how the baroque period following this became more of a theatrical focus on man and drama. I think that because of the fall of the roman empire, which is where most of the designs of this era came from, that this was the cause of such wide spread design ideas. This could also be why people seek religion and designers capitalized by creating massive structures that people could come to feel safe. Anna seemed to speak the same language when it came to the gothic cathedrals during this time period. It was all about enticing the people during this time and getting them to see the beauty of the church and its dominance over the city. In her essay Anna explains how the church was a beacon of hope for the people in the city. This was done not only through what was taught in the churches but also through the upward building and design of the cathedrals. In Justin’s alternative point he explains the idea of cathedrals and how they began to create a more spiritual sense of design, in a similar way to Nathan and Anna’s. However I think that Justin gave detail on how the revolution that was taking place during this time was solely based on the culture being in an unstable situation and faced uncertain threats. This helps the reader to understand that the building of these cathedrals was not just one person’s idea but also, a community effort. He is also able to clearly describe how the baroque period was able to revive the architecture through the use of dramatic design.

These two statues of David were a good comparison by Nathan of how the baroque period was all about capturing the dramatics of man. While one seems to be standing as if waiting on the battle to begin, the other which is from the baroque period, is a display of the emotion and action that one would sense during the battle. This essentially was what baroque was all about.