Diego Rivera, Man Controller of the Universe

Diego Rivera, Man Controller of the Universe (or Man in the Time Machine), 1934, fresco, 4.85 x 11.45 m in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

[@mateosanfitz9625]

Is an 84 year old painting but what it portrays is as relevant as ever.

[@JorgeAndradeauquista]

Thank you for the excellent analysis, very educational and enjoyable at the same time.

[@clumsydad7158]

I'm not a huge Rivera fan, but this is totally visionary. History coming back to haunt us once again, the days of authoritarians and rampant speculation/inequality. I love the bright wings/ellipses, as if of a dragonfly,,, man defying the universe to master it. Completely fascinating, one of the most universal and provocative murals I've seen; a definitive piece of 20th century art, for sure !!

[@Edralis]

3:34 is not just an orb reflecting a "control panel" - those are, I think, diagrams of atomic orbitals and a cell division in anaphase :)

[@The_Tiffster]

That's what I was going to say...and I think the orb is representing a crystal ball to mean that is the direction we are headed in set as the intersection of to circular planes - one representing the microcosm, the other the macrocosm...

[@victoriasylvestre2374]

Just amazing work. Becomes more relevant every day.

[@georgefarrington895]

This work is to me incredibly and intriguing so much said for all to see . Thanks for uploading.

[@vasectomyfail442]

i love the murals of mexico, it's just so difficult (for me) to work on a small scale. gigantic paintings are so fun

[@josejonhson674]

I love this painting, i wish to see it in person one day

[@Lambonius]

Such a great discussion. This piece really highlights the cyclical nature of our history. It's hard to read this image and not think of the extremely similar political debates going on today in 2016.

[@ericktellez7632]

2021 and is still relevant, sadly

[@men_del12]

@@ericktellez7632 so will 2023 sadly

[@sarahtaylor3950]

Diego Rivera's murals are so much relevant today. It's on my wish list to visit. Lovely video, thank you 🙏

[@aissasolis8248]

This is beautiful. Thank you.

[@kevincarter7633]

More people need to see this

[@rodrigocaballero3045]

This was great analysis from you both! thanks for sharing

[@andrewbellavie795]

3:37 isn't that an atom and cellular division? Rivera may have realized the importance of genetics and particle physics as breakthrough scientific discoveries.

[@JasonLastName]

Man at the Crossroads; is history beginning to repeat itself?

[@G_xx_]

Truly incredible

[@Inkulabi]

great art and discussion

[@indigodelight]

Fantastic!

[@Scott_Suede]

Timeless…

[@israelhernadez9575]

Dam what a expression

[@nelsonx5326]

Cool painting.

[@jsr200832]

Hi, I'm from Mexico and your video is great! How can I contribute to add subtitles in spanish so people can understand the explanation of the mural, which is really interesting

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

dude, this is cool

[@angelajsacaartistaffiliatedwpl]

Amazing mural art

[@jorgeofthejungle4450]

I’m only 17 and I’m researching Diego Rivera and I had no clue into who he was but this painting is just amazing...any additional suggestions I can use on my report?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

We have six videos and essays on Rivera and more on Mexican Muralism: smarthistory.org/rivera-sugar-cane/

[@Flosseveryday]

Wow.

[@L-mo]

Love that mural!

[@oneiceb5974]

Amazing Artist

[@MarioAlvarado]

Great explanation of the mural. I felt connected to this picture, because it reflects human nature, and the fact that it keeps repeating itself, even to this day we are in the same crossroads.

[@bradford7765]

Cool stuff, cool stuff.

[@timeenoughforart]

We need a remake, "Man, out of control." Our present circumstances are mirroring the early 1900, except we have the added issues of ecological and climate chaos.

[@robertosandoval9094]

that was a good as commentary

[@TWOCOWS1]

Nelson Rockefeller offered the mostly finished mural to MoMA, but it refused taking it! It would have survived there had the directors of that museum were not afraid of the public/media reaction to them putting up the "commie" mural up in their museum. So, sadly the mostly finished mural was chiselled off the wall and a Spanish painter was invited in to repaint the wall.

[@AS-qr4md]

though in a way, it sort of ends up being better the way it went... much more revealing story about all the players involved, and this mural living in Diego Rivera's homeland, a sweet poetic justice considering all the political animosity at present day...

[@Xergecuz]

LMAO I just googled syphilis, yup that is syphilis.

[@paperandpavement]

I laughed out loud when he mentioned that!

[@Sasha0927]

This is an amazing piece with the backstory to match.
30 Rock is a jewel indeed - some of my biggest laughs came from that place. ❤
The artistic shade, though: "Here's a syphilitic idiot who wouldn't respect my views."
For someone who had such thoughts of communism, it's not lost on me that the controller is a blonde with blue eyes.
I don't know Rivera's views, but I hold hope for a different interpretation of Zeus.

[@youtbe999]

Full-fledged communist Diego Rivera.
Did he meet Lenin? Was he in Russia? How did he get the soviet propaganda theme?

[@wyhawk]

Who brought science? If it was not God.

[@salvadorcastellanos6652]

No one brought it, It's always been here. In my opinion

[@lbnFadl]

Who brought God?

[@paulalopez8594]

I see the wheel prophesied of in the book of Ezekiel.