Discussion 41: Picture This The Acropolis You Are A Reporter
Discussion 41 Picture This The Acropolisyou Are A Reporter Cover
Discussion 4.1: Picture this... the Acropolis! You are a reporter covering the devastation and aftermath of 9/11. As luck would have it, you wander into a wormhole and are transported through time and space to Athens in the 5th century BCE. As you gaze up at the constructions on the Acropolis (initiated a generation after the Persian invasion) how do the experiences and ideas that you view in this architectural complex and within the 5th-century city of Athens itself compare with what you witnessed in New York City? What political, artistic and cultural ideas seem similar and what ideas seem different?
Sample Paper For Above instruction
The juxtaposition of the Acropolis of Athens in the 5th century BCE with the modern cityscape of New York City offers a profound insight into how architecture reflects underlying political, artistic, and cultural values across different eras. As a contemporary observer from the post-9/11 era transported back in time, the contrasts and similarities between these iconic sites illuminate the evolution of societal ideals, artistic expression, and collective identity.
Architectural Significance and Political Ideology
The Acropolis stands as a testament to Athenian political power, religious devotion, and artistic achievement. The Parthenon, with its harmonious proportions and exquisite sculptures, embodied the ideals of Athenian democracy, divine favor, and imperial strength. The involvement of prominent sculptors such as Phidias reflects a society that valued artistic excellence as a means of expressing civic pride and religious piety. In contrast, the 9/11 attacks shattered a sense of safety and revealed vulnerabilities within the modern urban fabric of New York City, leading to a different type of collective effort—one of resilience, recovery, and national solidarity. The political expressions differ markedly; while the Acropolis celebrates civic pride and divine authority, modern response emphasizes unity in the face of terror and destruction.
Artistic and Cultural Ideas
In Athens, art served both religious and political functions—votive offerings, public monuments, and sculptures depicting gods and heroes reinforced societal values and religious beliefs. The Parthenon’s sculptural reliefs depict mythological battles and civic triumphs, evoking a shared cultural identity rooted in myth and history. Conversely, the contemporary cityscape of New York embodies diverse cultural influences and individual expressions through its skyscrapers and memorials. The 9/11 Memorial, with its reflecting pools and engraved names, symbolizes remembrance and resilience, emphasizing collective grief and hope. While the Acropolis’s art emphasizes divine and civic ideals, modern art perceives trauma and recovery as central themes.
Comparison of Experiences and Ideas
The experience of viewing the Acropolis invokes a sense of awe rooted in historical grandeur and collective achievement. Its construction was a civic project driven by ideals of democracy and divine favor. In contrast, the experience of witnessing the aftermath of 9/11 evokes solemnity, mourning, and a unified call to rebuild and protect the nation. Both sites serve as collective expressions of identity—one through divine and civic aspiration, the other through resilience and remembrance. Politically, the Acropolis reflected Athens’ self-perception as the leader of the Greek world, whereas New York embodies a modern global metropolis resilient to adversity.
Conclusion
Overall, despite differences in time and cultural context, both the Acropolis and New York City are symbols of societal values and collective identity. The former celebrates civic and religious ideals through architecture and sculpture, while the latter emphasizes resilience and unity in the face of tragedy. These contrasting yet interrelated expressions highlight the enduring power of built environments to embody and communicate a society’s core beliefs and collective memory.