03-06-2014, 01:52 PM
I suppose it’s nice to discover art drawn by humans living 32,000 years ago. The very idea that it could survive for so long is awe-inspiring (a rare cataclysmic event sealed the cave). One sees an assortment of animals. Horses, lions, panthers, bears, bison, hyenas… The list goes on.
But ... line drawings? That’s the best they could do?
Herzog babbles in particular wonderment at an antelope with eight legs, saying how prescient this was of the kinematic art of the surrealists to come. But I beg to differ. True, these ancient humans were first chronologically; but in terms of what we modern humans first feasted our eyes on, well, it was “Nude Descending a Staircase.” It’s not enough to be first chronologically. These ancient “artists” should have anticipated what later generations would draw and had the foresight to “not go there” and instead put some effort into coming up with something totally unique. An eight-legged antelope? I can only sigh.
And line drawings? Sure, that’s a good starting point when first learning to draw. But then you grow. You don’t keep doing the same-ole, same-ole. You venture into three-dimensionality. You shade. For heaven’s sake, you crosshatch!
Where is their R. Crumb?
The tribal elders should have kicked these wannabe artists out of that cave and made them do something more productive, like bringing home the woolly bacon. I’m sure the world would be a better place for it.
Late in the documentary, Herzog makes the argument (using shaky and labyrinthine logic) that this cave (though in southern France) could be a Petra safe haven, to be used by the Jews in the end times. Whereupon he climbs on his soapbox and expresses his concern that the very breath of these survivors will increase the humidity in the cave, causing mold to form on the walls, and all too soon these great works of art will be gone.
Not soon enough for me...
Highly recommended.
But ... line drawings? That’s the best they could do?
Herzog babbles in particular wonderment at an antelope with eight legs, saying how prescient this was of the kinematic art of the surrealists to come. But I beg to differ. True, these ancient humans were first chronologically; but in terms of what we modern humans first feasted our eyes on, well, it was “Nude Descending a Staircase.” It’s not enough to be first chronologically. These ancient “artists” should have anticipated what later generations would draw and had the foresight to “not go there” and instead put some effort into coming up with something totally unique. An eight-legged antelope? I can only sigh.
And line drawings? Sure, that’s a good starting point when first learning to draw. But then you grow. You don’t keep doing the same-ole, same-ole. You venture into three-dimensionality. You shade. For heaven’s sake, you crosshatch!
Where is their R. Crumb?
The tribal elders should have kicked these wannabe artists out of that cave and made them do something more productive, like bringing home the woolly bacon. I’m sure the world would be a better place for it.
Late in the documentary, Herzog makes the argument (using shaky and labyrinthine logic) that this cave (though in southern France) could be a Petra safe haven, to be used by the Jews in the end times. Whereupon he climbs on his soapbox and expresses his concern that the very breath of these survivors will increase the humidity in the cave, causing mold to form on the walls, and all too soon these great works of art will be gone.
Not soon enough for me...
Highly recommended.