the roman experience
art, architecture, and engineering
Traveling the world is one thing, but being able to slow down and take the time to learn about the places you are walking, the history behind them, and how the incredible city came into being... is priceless. I made the last minute decision to register for this class because I wanted to travel to Italy, but honestly the classroom learning that accompanied the trip was what made it such an amazing experience.
Throughout the semester we learned about the art, architecture, and engineering aspects of Rome from Dr. Nelson and Dr. Rassati. I was only interested in the architecture and engineering aspects going into the class, but after learning about the incredible works of these artists, I realized how interconnected these topics really were in Roman history. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed learning about Baroque versus Renaissance art and how the paintings reflected the time period or lifestyle in which they were painted. The influence a single painting would have on the culture was incredible. Walking through Rome, it was nice to be able to classify the churches by style, and understanding what I was looking at. I became most intrigued when we discussed sculptures, though. I never really realized the physics behind a marble carving. The way in which the figure stood, or the additional elements were all a system which had to be supported, on its own. Even the paintings require a precise attention to proportionality and human perception.
As anticipated, I was still more interested in the architecture and engineering behind the city. I am amazed by the astounding monuments, buildings, and entire cities that were build without modern technology. The advanced understanding of physics needed to create Rome, along with the manpower needed to create these is mind-blowing. As much as I love the awe brought by the city, I enjoy having it accompanied with understanding, brought from our classroom time. We spent a lot of time focused on the use of arches. I thought I understood the concept, but after hearing about it from Rassati, I noticed how the arches were acting within a building or structure with much more clarity. The concept of arches, used so often now, began here. What now seems like a basic concept, was one of the greatest advancements in the ancient world- and I was able to explore this world. A world where arches, eloquent churches, and so many modern ideas are rooted.
I was also slightly nervous about spending my travels with 19 other strangers, but it was an entire experience in itself. Spending 10 days together traveling across the globe was rather bonding. These are some of the brightest, most driven, and unique people I have gotten to know. We were from a variety of different majors, which allowed us all to have different learning experiences within our trip. We were assigned individual research presentations, and in listening to these reports, I could hear everyone's passions through the topic they chose and the interest they displayed. We grew together through our inability to maneuver the streets the first day or two, and our mutual interest in learning. In conclusion, my trip to Rome was an experience of a lifetime I would do again in a heartbeat.
Throughout the semester we learned about the art, architecture, and engineering aspects of Rome from Dr. Nelson and Dr. Rassati. I was only interested in the architecture and engineering aspects going into the class, but after learning about the incredible works of these artists, I realized how interconnected these topics really were in Roman history. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed learning about Baroque versus Renaissance art and how the paintings reflected the time period or lifestyle in which they were painted. The influence a single painting would have on the culture was incredible. Walking through Rome, it was nice to be able to classify the churches by style, and understanding what I was looking at. I became most intrigued when we discussed sculptures, though. I never really realized the physics behind a marble carving. The way in which the figure stood, or the additional elements were all a system which had to be supported, on its own. Even the paintings require a precise attention to proportionality and human perception.
As anticipated, I was still more interested in the architecture and engineering behind the city. I am amazed by the astounding monuments, buildings, and entire cities that were build without modern technology. The advanced understanding of physics needed to create Rome, along with the manpower needed to create these is mind-blowing. As much as I love the awe brought by the city, I enjoy having it accompanied with understanding, brought from our classroom time. We spent a lot of time focused on the use of arches. I thought I understood the concept, but after hearing about it from Rassati, I noticed how the arches were acting within a building or structure with much more clarity. The concept of arches, used so often now, began here. What now seems like a basic concept, was one of the greatest advancements in the ancient world- and I was able to explore this world. A world where arches, eloquent churches, and so many modern ideas are rooted.
I was also slightly nervous about spending my travels with 19 other strangers, but it was an entire experience in itself. Spending 10 days together traveling across the globe was rather bonding. These are some of the brightest, most driven, and unique people I have gotten to know. We were from a variety of different majors, which allowed us all to have different learning experiences within our trip. We were assigned individual research presentations, and in listening to these reports, I could hear everyone's passions through the topic they chose and the interest they displayed. We grew together through our inability to maneuver the streets the first day or two, and our mutual interest in learning. In conclusion, my trip to Rome was an experience of a lifetime I would do again in a heartbeat.
post-travels project
From this trip, I realized the immense amount of time that the city of Rome portrays. The monuments we visited date back to BC times, while the city itself has kept up well with modern times. This shows how much civilization has evolved, or advanced rather, over time. I think Rome is such a well-known example of the advancement of civilization because of how well-preserved so much of the ancient city and artwork is and because it can also be found in virtually one location. The beautiful churches and phenomenal artwork show the ability of the culture of the time, dating back to the beginning of monumental advancements. The clock I created displays photographs taken on our trip. Starting with one o’clock, the photographs are placed in chronological order. This shows the broad time span displayed by the city and the world-changing advancements made. Additionally, the constantly ticking hands emphasize how time is always continuing and civilization is always growing.
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Don't mind the fact that half of the pictures are sideways... I am still working on that aspect