Greece
...their unique
outlook on the world and way of life. Through the works of
artists, playwrights, and philosophers, one can see both sides
of the conflicted systems of the world, such as; good vs. evil,
order vs. chaos, stability vs. flux, relativism vs. absolutism
and balance and harmony. The Greeks were materialists.
They adopted the philosophical doctrine which says that
physical matter is the only reality in the universe; everything
else, including thought, feeling, mind and will can be
explained in terms of physical laws. Their materialism was
expressed in an excessive regard for worldly, beautiful
material things and concerns. They used their art to show the
glories of humanity and man. The sculptors of the Golden
Age aimed to create graceful, strong and perfectly formed
figures. Their art showed natural positions and thoughtful
expressions rather than abstract art forms. Their standards of
order and balance became standards for classical art in
western civilization. The Greeks were proud of their temples
and other architecture, made to honor the gods and beautify
the polis (city-state). Their famous architectural styles were
the heavy Doric columns and the slender scrolled Ionian
columns. The Parthenon, the Greek temple for the goddess
Athena, is a impeccable example of symmetry and
proportion. The sides of the Parthenon give an optical
illusion of perfect balance on all sides. Their desire for
balance in art and architecture represents the balance of the
world; order and moderation are expressed in the simplicity
of lines and shapes. The resulting overall structure works
together to achieve harmony. In ancient Greece, public
drama was more than entertainment. It was a form of public
education. It dealt with issues of importance to the people,
such as; the authority of the leaders, the power of the
people, questions of justice,...
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