On Today's agenda we had a day trip to Florence a city that is home to the ground breaking of the Roman Empire and the colonization of mercantilism. We took a train from Arrezzo to Florence. This was my first time traveling by train and it wasn't an overwhelming experience; it seemed like I had done it before. The only thing I experienced differently was the change in speed that caused my ears to pop as we reach high speeds of 152 kilometers per hour. Unloading the train we made our way into the heart and center of Florence, the Piazza della Republica. As I previously mentioned, this area was where Roman re-birth began. The significance in this newness is the revival of classical antiquity, individualism, and vernacular. As a group we were able to see some of the prominent structures of the Catholic Church and Renaissiance history of this town from the high rise homes identifying the families in power as well as the areas that were being restored from the WorldWar. Not only were the city's structural buildings indicators of the Italian character it explained the culture that made us understand why they are so similarly ethnocentric as Americans and how difficult it is to overcome your sense of self. Kirk has explained that from the beginning unifying the people has been difficult from as there were so many wealthy families districts that at some point there needed to be a dictator that would require congeniality. This power control issue between merchants and aristocracies and tensions concerning the "so called" streets sparked creation of individualism in reference to looking at details and people in their own context. This idea of context is also applicable in leadership context. There is no way for a student organization or governing people to remain in existence if there are multiple people acting as the dictator rather than cohorts or a team. It takes the administration of one wise person and one unified idea. This city's breaking point for unification was solidified in the 1290 by the Ghibbelines and the additional influence of the church within the homes.
The Renaissance was also a period and style in which the physical and metaphysical became yin and yang. The church was a place that offered life and light; therefore, throughout this time period, artists incorporated the individualistic style and depicted religious leaders like the everyday person, still showing some religious respect, which gave them the reminder that ministers are humans too. Everything starts to begin with opening the space and initiating communication between the object and the art. And in this case we students are the object. Furthermore it means, miracles can happen for the people as well which leads back to the fact that the church provides light or an understanding that each person can underwing. This brings me to the fact that artistry and the images sculpted in the side of the church and painted on the ceilings allowed for the revelation of the miracles that were performed by the saints in way that even the illiterate people's in the 1400s could receive. My favorite historical site and depiction of the life of Christ and judgment was in the St.John Baptistry (pictured below)
This gold painted ceiling in the Baptistry is comprised of symmetry and history. The parables are arranged in a comic books sort of way. This choice of color immediately draws attention to the viewer and evokes a feeling of light from above as if God's light shines on you at all time. From the image you can see that it's more of an octagonal shape rather the traditional circle dome. There is great significance in this shape and the value of 8; eight is the number of judgment and beginning of new life as God created the Earth and on the seventh day he rested and a new life began. This is another connection why people went to the church to experience this "life." Although the shape is octagonal the story is being told in a round which represents God's eternity and continuity. I was amazed by this and I feel as though the reverence for these cathedrals and churches should be implemented in the United States. In today's time the same respect is not shown as people show up to churches with immodest clothing. Some people even host receptions there. This history and knowledge is important and I have much greater respect for the current architectures who are insistent on preserving this art so that others can become appreciative.
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