Art as a Culture-The Lascaux Caves

1. Functions of early art
1. What were the cave artists trying to say?: The cave artists were trying to convey their everyday life in art form; they were representations of the things they saw and experienced in their lives. As well, it was a way for them to communicate their beliefs and ideals to other groups who might pass through the caves or even to communicate to those who stayed in the caves.
2. Why do you think there were so many animals and not as many people in the paintings?: Because most cave paintings were focused on hunters and animals, animals were a large portion of the paintings, while the men were stick figure-like. Due to the hunters knowing what humans looked like, they didn't have to be detailed or put them into paintings at all, however, in different areas there were different animals, which means the more detailed the animal painting was, the easier other people would have finding that animal.
3. What can the paintings tell us about other aspects of the life of cave dwellers or Paleolithic people?: As stated above, the paintings were usually about hunters and animals, which means the people were hunters and gathers and moved constantly. The cave dwellers and Paleolithic people led a life of hunters and gathers and painting on the cave walls which animals were there and what they looked like aided future groups coming into the area. Although they did not spend all their time in the caves, it was still important for them to leave their mark.
4. What difficulties did these early humans navigate in order to paint these pictures?: These cave dwellers most likely had to crawl on their stomachs to reach into the corners of the cave, carry some sort of light source to see into the cave, carry their art utensils (paint, charcoal, rocks, etc.), as well as be aware of animals within the cave. I'm sure some cave dwellers did not want to risk their lives to paint but I'm sure others did and wanted that perfect spot, which most likely had several risks just getting there.
5. Speculate three possible functions of the art from the Lascaux Cave:
1. Aided hunters and gathers in knowing which animals lived in the area.
2. Helped communicate stories, tactics, and information to incoming cave dwellers to help them.
3. Allowed the cave dwellers to express themselves in a way they could not with words; everyone could draw but not everyone has the capacity to make tools or clothing or communicate.
2. Commonalities in Function

1. Compare the possible functions of the art from the Lascaux Caves to modern art, in all of its various forms: Art is art. It cannot and will never be pinned down to an exact definition besides 'self-expression'. Therefore, although these two periods of art are vastly diverse, they both share that self-expression component that art is meant to produce and be produced by. The functions of both of these art periods is still to tell people the status of the time, location, and animals or people. Both help people find things in the outside world and among themselves or their group.
3. My Favorite Art: 
1. Choosing just one type of art is extremely hard for me. I have always and forever will be an art person and I love and respect all forms of art and try to dap into every genre and type of art there is. As of right now, and because I don't believe many people will think of this, I will be choosing the propaganda art movement with artists such as Ron English and Shepherd Fairey.

The  first video is a sample of the documentary POPaganda, which is about Ron English and his art, which is against corporations and the ignorance of the masses in politics. His images are extremely controversial because he is going against the media but he is using his right to free speech to go against the 'norm'.

The second video is of Shepard Fairey, the creator of the OBEY label. He is a street artist that has risen up with his Obama portrait, his art for the pro-peace movement, the gay rights movement, etc.

1. What function does it serve? What are they trying to communicate?: Propaganda street art is meant to simply provoke the masses. This type of street art is meant to make people take a closer look at the things around them, why they do the things they do, and why no one has said such simple things before. I believe they are trying to communicate a sense of reality that is not fed from the media or society, but from an outside source, which gives you the opportunity to see your society from an outside source and not from your society's eyes.
2. Is there a complete culture surround this art form?: Yes, street art requires that you know the street codes, which means you must remain hidden, discrete, fast, and respectful of other street artists. Usually they come in a van at night or during a slow point in the day, may have others for protection or just one or two people, they may have weapons such as bats in case of a fight, and the point is to get there, set up, and leave as fast as possible. Street artists choose not to respect 'private property' which is owned by corporations, such as billboards, because many of them, as English said in the first video, have free speech because they paid for it, not because they have it as a right. We simply accept all the advertisements corporations put into our face everyday everywhere we go but we are supposed to feel disgusted and look down at street artists, whether they are regular graffiti artists or 'famous' street artists like English and Fairey.
3. How does this art form and its culture benefit society? Are there any detrimental affects?: Propaganda street art benefits society by giving it it's news without the regulations and bureaucratic notions of media in our society. I don't believe it is detrimental except for those who have money and are being exposed and get a bad reputation or lose sales.