The Arts Past and Present: Mosaics - for iPad/Mac/PC

The Arts Past and Present: Mosaics - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How can we read an image to tell us more about its ancient maker? In this album a mosaic artist, Catherine Parkinson, visits the splendidly-preserved ancient Roman mosaics at Brading Villa on the Isle of Wight. With the help of two archaeologists she discovers that the iconography reveals important clues about the villa inhabitants' world view, taste, and aspirations. Their leisure pursuits, the value placed on learning, and their views on men and women are just some of the themes revealed in the mythological narratives. Did the craftsmen bring pattern books to the villa owner so he could choose how to decorate his house, much like today? Catherine's own practical experience of mosaic-making also helps us understand the methods the Romans used to lay the mosaics. In the audio track, Open University classicist Jessica Hughes explores some of the issues surrounding interpretation of these mosaics' meanings. This material forms part of The Open University Course AA100 The arts and past and present.

The Open University


    • Feb 9, 2010 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 3m AVG DURATION
    • 16 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Arts Past and Present: Mosaics - for iPad/Mac/PC

    The Arts Past and Present: Mosaics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2010 1:24


    A short introduction to this album.

    arts mosaics
    Transcript -- The Arts Past and Present: Mosaics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2010


    Transcript -- A short introduction to this album.

    arts mosaics
    Mosaics at Brading Villa

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009 1:14


    Mosaic Artist Catherine Parkinson goes to visit a Roman Villa, Brading, on the Isle of Wight

    meaning tradition ancient villa isle wight preserved mosaics
    Transcript -- Mosaics at Brading Villa

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009


    Transcript -- Mosaic Artist Catherine Parkinson goes to visit a Roman Villa, Brading, on the Isle of Wight

    meaning tradition ancient villa isle wight preserved mosaics
    The Astronomer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009 2:59


    The iconography in this mosaic reveals more than meets the eye.

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    Transcript -- The Astronomer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009


    Transcript -- The iconography in this mosaic reveals more than meets the eye.

    tools greek trade globe themes worldview celestial linking phenomena astronomers trier iconography
    The Cockheaded Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009 3:27


    A mosaic like today's political cartoons.

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    Transcript -- The Cockheaded Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009


    Transcript -- A mosaic like today's political cartoons.

    head body gods caesar layers mythology symbols gladiators symbolic caricature abraxas gallus amphitheatre humourous
    Transcript -- Orpheus

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009


    Transcript -- Clues that this mosaic was made in a hurry.

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    The Shepherd

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009 2:10


    A mosaic depicting a castrated shepherd and a nymph

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    Transcript -- The Shepherd

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009


    Transcript -- A mosaic depicting a castrated shepherd and a nymph

    identify couples pattern clues mythological iconography nymph standardisation attis
    Medusa

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009 3:00


    Catherine Parkinson realises why this mosaic is laid a little crooked.

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    Transcript -- Medusa

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009


    Transcript -- Catherine Parkinson realises why this mosaic is laid a little crooked.

    stone hair position methods superstitions symbol medusa limestone
    Reading Roman Mosaics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009 10:16


    Open University classicist Jessica Hughes talks about the the Brading Villa mosaics and explores some of the issues raised in the video tracks.

    reading open university mosaics jessica hughes
    Transcript -- Reading Roman Mosaics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2009


    Transcript -- Open University classicist Jessica Hughes talks about the the Brading Villa mosaics and explores some of the issues raised in the video tracks.

    reading mosaics jessica hughes transcript open university

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