WEEK 11 - Apocalyptic Flashcards
What is a common theme in art across history?
The apocalypse or “end of time”
How has the apocalypse been represented in art?
- Painted, written, drawn, filmed, sung, etc.
- Present in nearly every fine art form
Which art form rarely features the apocalypse?
Architecture (for practical reasons)
Do all cultures have apocalyptic themes?
Yes, most cultures have apocalyptic imagery in myths and art
What does the word “apocalypse” mean?
- From Greek “apokalyptein”
- Means “uncover” or “reveal”
What is the original purpose of apocalyptic stories?
- Show enlightenment, new beginnings, or hope for the oppressed
- Often involves a dramatic, painful opening
How is “apocalypse” usually used today?
Refers to doomsday or “the end of the world as we know it”
Where does the apocalyptic theme in Western culture come from?
Stems from Christian traditions
What is the Book of Revelation?
- Attributed to St. John the Apostle
- Provides a dream-like account of heaven and the ultimate battle between good and evil
What does the Book of Revelation describe?
- Describes events leading up to the end of the world
- Involves God’s victory over evil
Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
Sent as harbingers of the end of the world in the Book of Revelation
NOTE: Harbingers = something that foreshadows a future event
What do the Four Horsemen personify?
Conquest/pestilence
War
Famine
Death
What does “St. Michael Tramples the Devil” represent?
- Depicts good triumphing over evil
- St. Michael defeats the devil and his followers
What does the passage from Revelation 12:7-9 describe?
- War in heaven between St. Michael and the dragon (Satan)
- The dragon and his angels lose and are thrown down to earth
What is depicted in the “Last Judgement” fresco?
- Covers the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel
- Christ is at the center, seated on a cloud
- Christ raises his right arm to raise the blessed and left arm to damn others
NOTE: It’s a painting by Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel
How does the “Last Judgement” reflect the idea of the apocalypse?
- Apocalypse can be good or bad depending on perspective
- For the oppressed, the apocalypse symbolizes hope and salvation
What is “The Great Red Dragon and The Woman Clothed in Sun”?
- A painting by William Blake (1805).
- Based on Revelation 12:2-4.
- Depicts a red dragon with seven heads and ten horns.
- The dragon tries to devour the woman’s child as it is born.
What does “The Great Red Dragon and The Woman Clothed in Sun”? represent?
- The battle between good (the woman) and evil (the dragon).
- The dragon represents Satan or evil forces.
- The woman and child are often interpreted as symbols of the Church and Christ.
What is “Revelation 6” (Gustav Doré, 1880)?
- A famous wood engraving by Gustav Doré (1880).
- Illustrates Revelation 6:8, showing a pale horse with “Death” as the rider.
What does the “Revelation 6” represent?
- One of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
- The pale horse symbolizes death and destruction.
- Part of the apocalyptic events in the Book of Revelation.
What is “The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion” (Edgar Allan Poe, 1839)?
- A short story by Edgar Allan Poe.
- Describes a cometary impact destroying Earth, with vivid apocalyptic imagery.
What Is the Story of “The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion”?
- Depicts the destruction of Earth by a comet.
- Highlights the intense light and heat, representing the end of the world.
- Despite destruction, the story suggests a note of optimism about the human spirit’s potential redemption.
What does the falcon and falconer represent in The Second Coming?
- Symbol of loss of control
- Falcon can’t hear the falconer → separation from guiding force
What does “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” mean? (Second Coming)
- Collapse of societal structure
- Chaos replacing order
