Question 1: How do you interpret the imagery of the Statue of David?
- Created by Michelangelo, the Statue of David is widely considered to be one of the pinnacles of artistic achievement.
- It is seen by many as a representation of the perfect human form.
- Here, the body has been made ‘lame’ – the left leg is missing. Humanity is crumbling.
- Note the setting – it is isolated, with no context, no people around it – guarded by two dogs. Separated from human society, it has now lost its significance.
- Human achievement only has significance if there is a context for it to be placed within, and if it can be seen as a part of a continued march towards progress.
- It now has little more value, importance or significance than the “plastic…lamp” version that Theo’s mother had in her bathroom.
Question 2: How do you interpret the imagery of Picasso’s Guernica? Consider what it represents, its current setting, and the nature of the scene.
Question 3: How do you interpret the imagery of the flying pig balloon?
Question 4: What importance do all these famous artworks now have? Are they still as significant as they once were?
Question 5: ‘I just don’t think about it.’ What is the importance of this quote?
Question 6: What judgement is passed against Nigel and the ‘elites’ of this society?
Below is an edited version of the ‘Ark of the Arts’ sequence. Be aware that the person has messed around with the audio of the sequence, removing most of the dialogue and much of the conversation between Theo and Nigel. However, it still provides a good reference for the imagery of the sequence, and Nigel’s final line:
