Ancient and Contemporary Super Heroes
The ancient Greeks would entertain and spiritually enrich themselves with the oral tradition of Hellenistic lore, which began with Zeus's overthrow of the Titans and continued through the superhuman labors of his half-human offspring, Heracles. Among other celebrated poets and playwrights of his day, Homer would expand upon these tales as the heroic machismo events of the Trojan War.
Consequently, sculpted marbles statues, bronzes, mosaics, and frescos would don temples, libraries, agoras, roadways, and ancient parks. At home, parents in ancient times would pass the oral tradition down to their children, frequently with accompanied line drawings of their favorite heroes adorned upon any number of vases and drinking vessels.
Due to the chaste influences of modern monotheistic religions and the elimination of the ancient, above-mentioned Hellenistic influences, one must today go to a museum, a private gallery, or some nouveau-classical fountain to view the naked form. Thus, the publicly displayed sculptures of Venus, Apollo, and naked wrestlers with exposed gentiles, along with the naked open-air Olympics games, are gone.
Unlike the ancient Greeks who considered nudity, particularly the developed, athletic male form a symbol of celebrated achievement, today's society tends to embrace the priggish modesty associated with its own brand of religious heritage.
Hard to Keep a Good Action Hero Down
Nevertheless, in today's monotheistic world, where the naked form is held in disdain, even disgust, godlike superheroes persist. However, no longer sacred stories supporting religion, Hellenistic beliefs, or long-forgotten wars, today's imaginary heroes have been reduced to the realm of the whimsical, or what is today called "Comic Action Heroes."
Based upon fantasy and pseudo-mythology, today's action hero stories, like those of yesteryears, are generally far from comedic, figuratively or literally. All the same, the term "comic" persists because of the printed medium, which has come to be known as comic books. This multi-billion dollar enterprise far exceeds the delivery capacities of ancient oral tradition. Thus, it seems almost ironic that these tales of epic, fictional ass-kicking are referred to as "comic" today.
Moreover, instead of oral tradition spoken over wine or honey-flavored water, comic book fans today can share their stories over Cokes and milkshakes, which they consume from commercially produced tumblers adorned with their favorite heroes.
But is it Art?
Indeed, based upon the discerning scale of today's Fine Art esthetics, most discriminating art lovers would discard comic book art out of hand as over-commercialized, trendy, even trite. To some extent, this is true. However, the subjects of comic books are no longer religious deities, nor are they historic war heroes (even if those ancient war stories were subject to considerable fictionalization). They are, instead, tales from the playground, kid stuff, right? Yet, here we have the irony.
The Ancients had their religious tales of Zeus, Apollo, and Heracles, along with their historic exaggerations with the likes of Ajax and Achilles. Early Christian missionaries were forced to go out "amongst the Gentiles" or have the faith die out when Christianity initially failed to catch on as a new Judaic sectarian belief. Those Gentiles just happened to be Hellenistic polytheists. To help sell their monotheistic concept of one God, Christians began to embrace the miraculous superpowers of the saints. While passive and Christian-like, action tales of the saints included walking through fire, surviving decapitation, confronting and taming incredibly wild, oversized beasts, all the while overcoming adversity to make the world a better and more just place for mankind.
Enlightenment
Then, during the 18th century's Age of Enlightenment, tales of religious miracles began to subside due to growing skepticism and subsequent challenges to religious dogma. By the turn of the 19th century, industrialization and science were beginning to create miracles of their own with the invention of the telegraph, the camera, fast-moving locomotive trains, and steam-powered ships. Today, after years of space travel, atom-splitting, and genetically modifying DNA, one can even convert tap water to wine.
The point being, Hellenistic and Christian art had their religious roots based upon lore surrounding supernatural feats by each religion's own brand of superheroes. For the ancient Greco-Roman's, it was deities and demigods. For the Christians, it was the miracles of Jesus and the action-filled lives of its saints with no disrespect intended.
The Hero Persists
Today, after a century and a half of modern art movements, manifestos, and artistic transitions, the human form is far from dominant as a vehicle for creative expression. However, talented comic artists like Alex Ross, Todd McFarlane, Lee Bermejo, and others, with their passion for drawing the naked human figure, continue to do so through the miracle of body-painted-costuming, minus the gentiles (of course). They don't pretend to be esthetically ennobled fine artists for a minute, yet they do consider themselves accomplished artists. Using a pencil or digital stylus, along with extensive knowledge of anatomy, design, and composition, they can render all sorts of multi-figure arrangements while seated in a studio or upon a park bench.
Does this then make their efforts any less worthy than those of fine artists? Only history can be the true judge of any artist's efforts, and even history can be fickle. Until recently, the works of illustrators like NC Wyeth and Norman Rockwell were held in disdain by the museums and the purveyors of fine arts for being too "commercial." However, their works and other 20th century illustrators now appear regularly in touring museum shows. Some works have even been acquired by museums.
This previous alienation by the Fine Art (a 20th-century invention) community was an unintentional result of Modern Art's elevation to non-commercial, visual poetry, initiated by the Barbizon and Impressionists schools of art. However, as valid a notion as visual verse is, and as wonderful and diverse the works spanning from the late 19th to early 21st century, we can't discount all artwork originating from customer specifications, previous or since.
Indeed, suppose modern action hero artwork (i.e., Comic Art) is to be esthetically devalued. In that case, we'd best not do so based upon its commercialization, for Rembrandt, Rubens, Michelangelo, and all artists before were commercial by function. Their unique skills depended on delivering precisely what their patrons demanded, or they would have starved.
As to any conception of fine art on some pedestal, we should refer to Jamie Wyeth's quote when rationalizing fine vs. commercial art values. Recalling his dad, Andrew, the painter, and his granddad NC the illustrator, Jamie Wyeth, stated, "There's this thing now that illustrations are sort of secondary to art ...I think that's a bunch of crap".
With any luck, art will always remain within the eye of the beholder and not upon some capricious scale of presumed esthetics. In any event, throughout recorded history, mankind has proven a continued dependence upon heroes more super than natural. Therefore, that genre is not likely to end any time soon.
A History of Changing Attitudes: How the arts lost the human figure and rationalized its reappearance in time again for the Italian Renaissance.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
The Seeds of Modern Art: A suppressive government, industrial innovations and growing apathy towards Salon sanctioned artwork all contributed to a world-changing artistic rebellion.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
Romanticism and the Avant-garde
Art Capitalized: Passions and innovations in painting techniques begin to impact the conservative world of neoclassical art as artists begin to question tradition.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
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| Click to expand Action Heroes on Ancient Drinking Vessels - Heracles slaying Nessus the Centaur, c.500 BCE |
Due to the chaste influences of modern monotheistic religions and the elimination of the ancient, above-mentioned Hellenistic influences, one must today go to a museum, a private gallery, or some nouveau-classical fountain to view the naked form. Thus, the publicly displayed sculptures of Venus, Apollo, and naked wrestlers with exposed gentiles, along with the naked open-air Olympics games, are gone.
Unlike the ancient Greeks who considered nudity, particularly the developed, athletic male form a symbol of celebrated achievement, today's society tends to embrace the priggish modesty associated with its own brand of religious heritage.
Hard to Keep a Good Action Hero Down
Nevertheless, in today's monotheistic world, where the naked form is held in disdain, even disgust, godlike superheroes persist. However, no longer sacred stories supporting religion, Hellenistic beliefs, or long-forgotten wars, today's imaginary heroes have been reduced to the realm of the whimsical, or what is today called "Comic Action Heroes."
 |
| Comp Sketch by Alex Ross - Complex figurative composition for epic comic entitled "Kingdom Come," Copyright ©2010, DC Comics |
Based upon fantasy and pseudo-mythology, today's action hero stories, like those of yesteryears, are generally far from comedic, figuratively or literally. All the same, the term "comic" persists because of the printed medium, which has come to be known as comic books. This multi-billion dollar enterprise far exceeds the delivery capacities of ancient oral tradition. Thus, it seems almost ironic that these tales of epic, fictional ass-kicking are referred to as "comic" today.
Moreover, instead of oral tradition spoken over wine or honey-flavored water, comic book fans today can share their stories over Cokes and milkshakes, which they consume from commercially produced tumblers adorned with their favorite heroes.
 |
| Today's Comic Drinking Vessel - Not precisely the ancient Greek vase, but the applied theme and suggested oral tradition over refreshments remains pretty much intact. |
But is it Art?
Indeed, based upon the discerning scale of today's Fine Art esthetics, most discriminating art lovers would discard comic book art out of hand as over-commercialized, trendy, even trite. To some extent, this is true. However, the subjects of comic books are no longer religious deities, nor are they historic war heroes (even if those ancient war stories were subject to considerable fictionalization). They are, instead, tales from the playground, kid stuff, right? Yet, here we have the irony.
The Ancients had their religious tales of Zeus, Apollo, and Heracles, along with their historic exaggerations with the likes of Ajax and Achilles. Early Christian missionaries were forced to go out "amongst the Gentiles" or have the faith die out when Christianity initially failed to catch on as a new Judaic sectarian belief. Those Gentiles just happened to be Hellenistic polytheists. To help sell their monotheistic concept of one God, Christians began to embrace the miraculous superpowers of the saints. While passive and Christian-like, action tales of the saints included walking through fire, surviving decapitation, confronting and taming incredibly wild, oversized beasts, all the while overcoming adversity to make the world a better and more just place for mankind.
Enlightenment
Then, during the 18th century's Age of Enlightenment, tales of religious miracles began to subside due to growing skepticism and subsequent challenges to religious dogma. By the turn of the 19th century, industrialization and science were beginning to create miracles of their own with the invention of the telegraph, the camera, fast-moving locomotive trains, and steam-powered ships. Today, after years of space travel, atom-splitting, and genetically modifying DNA, one can even convert tap water to wine.
The point being, Hellenistic and Christian art had their religious roots based upon lore surrounding supernatural feats by each religion's own brand of superheroes. For the ancient Greco-Roman's, it was deities and demigods. For the Christians, it was the miracles of Jesus and the action-filled lives of its saints with no disrespect intended.
The Hero Persists
Today, after a century and a half of modern art movements, manifestos, and artistic transitions, the human form is far from dominant as a vehicle for creative expression. However, talented comic artists like Alex Ross, Todd McFarlane, Lee Bermejo, and others, with their passion for drawing the naked human figure, continue to do so through the miracle of body-painted-costuming, minus the gentiles (of course). They don't pretend to be esthetically ennobled fine artists for a minute, yet they do consider themselves accomplished artists. Using a pencil or digital stylus, along with extensive knowledge of anatomy, design, and composition, they can render all sorts of multi-figure arrangements while seated in a studio or upon a park bench.
 |
| Click to enlarge Fine Artist Kent Williams - Blond Natalia in Studio Arrangement. This painting represents an outstanding example of multi-figurative composition in Fine Arts today. |
This previous alienation by the Fine Art (a 20th-century invention) community was an unintentional result of Modern Art's elevation to non-commercial, visual poetry, initiated by the Barbizon and Impressionists schools of art. However, as valid a notion as visual verse is, and as wonderful and diverse the works spanning from the late 19th to early 21st century, we can't discount all artwork originating from customer specifications, previous or since.
 |
| Click to enlarge Color Comp by Alex Ross - Striking use of figurative form in a color sketch, Copyright ©2010, DC Comics |
As to any conception of fine art on some pedestal, we should refer to Jamie Wyeth's quote when rationalizing fine vs. commercial art values. Recalling his dad, Andrew, the painter, and his granddad NC the illustrator, Jamie Wyeth, stated, "There's this thing now that illustrations are sort of secondary to art ...I think that's a bunch of crap".
With any luck, art will always remain within the eye of the beholder and not upon some capricious scale of presumed esthetics. In any event, throughout recorded history, mankind has proven a continued dependence upon heroes more super than natural. Therefore, that genre is not likely to end any time soon.
A History of Changing Attitudes: How the arts lost the human figure and rationalized its reappearance in time again for the Italian Renaissance.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
Proto-Impressionism...
The Seeds of Modern Art: A suppressive government, industrial innovations and growing apathy towards Salon sanctioned artwork all contributed to a world-changing artistic rebellion.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
Romanticism and the Avant-garde
Art Capitalized: Passions and innovations in painting techniques begin to impact the conservative world of neoclassical art as artists begin to question tradition.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
