Imagine you're 4 years old, and you have Waldemar as your nanny / babysitter. And he begins to tell you story after story about history and art history in particular. What would you want to grow up as? An accountant? Nah! A banker? Nah! A Dentist? Nah!! An Artist? Well Duh! How could you want to be anything but an artist, after you'd listened to him expound its beautiful intricate historical tapestry and intrigue of the world of art? You listen to Waldemar, and all you want to do is run away with the circus, and paint your life away!
Dear Waldemar, I started out learning history in elementary school. Then, in high school, ancient history. Again when I switched schools, I got the same cavalcade from my art teacher. Then again in art college, in my course, A Survey of Western Art...so I sort of went from cave paintings to counter- reformation three times over, and now I have found YOU! I'm a painter/ sculptor/romantic kind of average schmo, and I just simply love your documentaries. Is that what you'd call them? Lessons? Lectures with show and tell? Whatever, I can't pull myself away from these. This is my second go- round with this ROTAS installment, and I'm getting even more out of it. Thank you. It's a wonder to be getting into senior citizen age ( just 6 months shy!) And to be able to so sincerely congratulate a much younger person on a job so well done. I don't know how you ever studied so much, or thought so much about how to house the huge inventory of your knowledge in a package with dramatic structure and accessible narrative. You know, I daresay you have made high- level intellectual learning as easy and consumable as coronation street, or antiques road show, or the baking contests...you are that good! I hope you don't take offence by the comparison. I think you should host Saturday night Live, or moderate a presidential debate, or be the next Canadian prime minister. That's how high a place I'm putting you. If you were any better, you'd be demi- god. Way to go, Youngster!
God gave us Jesus Christ but he gave us scientific knowledge as well. Exploring religions now from a scientific point of view we have to realize, they are all a compilation of warnings, of how we need to learn to build up a symbiotic relationship with the Holy Creation, it's not casual that human beings have this strong sense for beauty, we must get involved saving beauty before we lose everything, watching together such awesome productions might help a lot, l am the biggest supporter of yours guys
The "Dark Ages" were the pinnacle of western civilization. The "Renaissance" was not a "rebirth", but the continuation and final period of the Middle Ages.
Recommended this to my friend in Split, Croatia, where they were celebrating the Feast of St. Dujm or St. Domnius who cathedral there was built in 300 or 400 AD on the very burial site of the emperor who martyred Domnius. This great video is on point for them.
A wonderful documentary, but I do wish it hadn't neglected the split between the Eastern and Western Churches, particularly in relation to the affect that had on the understanding of religious art. But, of course, that alone is a significant project by itself, and there were time constraints. When he touched on Gibbon I thought he might go there, but it is true that Gibbon himself only touched on a bit, though he did take it further than the documentary did.
I can remember my grandfather telling me they were called the Dark Ages, not because things were gloomy or the light was dim, but because not much was known about those times, since the obessive record-keeping of Rome was over, and Europe was not yet widely literate.
Actually, Hegel needed them to be dark, so that after it could enter the age of light, Enlightenment. In many a story, they still go with that perspective.
The rotas stone posted outside reminded me of the the Jewish mezuzah: In mainstream Rabbinic Judaism, a mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to "write the words of God on the gates and doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9). (Wikipedia) That there were no Christian images in early Christianity makes sense given the 1st Commandment against such. I wonder why he didn't mention these things at the beginning. But ... it's interesting.
Yes, he seems to have completely ignored the fact that so many of the early Christians were of Jewish heritage and that the absence of early depictions of Jesus were not driven by promotional cautions but by Jewish tradition and Mosaic law. The emergence of images of Christ on the cross had nothing to do with a change in theology regarding suffering, because the teaching regarding the suffering servant Messiah go back 800 years before Christ to Isaiah chapter 53. This was His mission, not an afterthought. Jesus, Himself told His disciples that He would suffer and be killed. Funny how modern critics ignore that detail when they come up with their theories. Was that just bad research or did his explanation sound more dramatic for a video online?
There is NO ONE in my life like Jesus. My love for Him is so intense and so calming, that painting out my feelings about Him just feels right. I know people who say any images of Jesus/God are graven images and we shouldn't worship graven images. I agree that we should not worship these created images. My creations are simply visual love songs/homages to my MOST BELOVED. When Jesus said that if His devotees did not sing out their love for Him (Luke 19:40), the stones might cry out, I totally get this. My canvases are simply stones to spill out my feelings upon. They are not graven images to be worshiped.
We're not forced to believe, thank God. You either tune in or not. And myths do not break, they either fade away or become bolder and stronger and more life-affirming.
You never disappoint Januszczak :) Very interesting documentary but I must say, I love the soundtracks! Where can I find them? Can any one point me in the right direction? Much appreciated!
It was a Interesting small step back in time seeing the Roman image of Jesus and then the catholic image. It's also interesting that he was Jewish and my Jewish friends deny he even existed.
Origin of wordle revealed? Thought I had seen all of Waldermar's videos but somehow had missed this one. Always so educational in a delightful way. Love them all.
@@catofthecastle1681 Apart from Europeans who converted to Judaism, then a centuries later moved to lsraeI, blonds were probably more common in Jesus' day than today, due to the number of European slaves.
The Greeks conquered that area hundreds of years before bringing many Europeans to that land. Plus tons of trade through ships had societies interconnected
I absolutely adore your videos and so also this one - I have always been attracted to the very eatly art and this one is just a wonder of opening into the early imagining, mysteries and symbols 🎶🖤🎵
Too many ads. I love this presenter, WaldemarJ. I can’t deal with so many ads interrupting his presentation. I can not afford paid TH-cam. Social security does not give us old folks enough
The Bible gives many clues of Jesus's appearance. He is descendant from King David who was a handsome curly, blonde man, The gospel tells that he was bearded, apocalypse described that his skin was like bronze and his hair was white like wool, Isaiah tells his appearance was transformed, and he lost human appearance due to the sores and so on.
@@bradbray1737 obviously because the Bible are not books for searching and confirming what Jesus looks like but to find Jesús's revelation, the kingdom of God, his gosple and salvation. Blessings.
art, like life, depicts an endless array of subject matter. However, one could argue that there is honest art from below (aka the common working person) and art from above (aka the wealthy and powerful). Honest art from below tells the truth about life. Art from above is PROPAGANDA...period. It tells you what the rich and powerful want you to know!!!
There's two ways to look at it. 1) Art expresses the understanding and intention, passion and ideals of the artists faithfully, the inside spirit projecting out and given physical manifestation, or 2) Art corresponds faithfully to the "actual state of affairs, "the facts of the matter", "the truth". The second is trickier because we never get to a final, exclusive, complete "truth". Or 3) Art can be deliberate, conscious, crafty propaganda meant to influence emotions and perceptions and motivations in deceitful ways, like we get with the Nazis or Soviets or today's mainstream media news ridiculous coverage of events like 9/11 or "War on Terror" or Gaza... Or commercials to influence you to buy their junk... Or preachers like Hagee to get you to support Israel no matter what horrors they do...
@@TorMax9 I'll take your first two categories and chuck out the third as not falling into the realm of art at all. Art has been made about the Arab/Israeli conflict, and when done well this can increase empathy, understanding and broad-mindedness. However, it's no substitute for the facts and shouldn't be expected to fill a didactic or even an ethical role. Art is first and foremost an observation, not an imposition of will, which must take the secondary place. Therein lies its honesty: it is one of the few modes of human communication in which the predetermined objective doesn't always have pride of place, which can capture a moment of true contemplation.
Trouble is the Empire was already split in two. And at a certain point during Constantine's reign, it had three emperors, Constantine being one of them, in the West. His idea was not to further devide, but rather to reunite the empire under his rule - one emperor, one faith, one church. He did that by killing off the others (one was his brother-in-law) and creating a new centre of power bearing his name and stamp - Constantinople.
Since Rotas squares were found in Pompeii in some buildings that were likely built in the BCE period, it is unlikely a Christian symbol at least in the beginning, perhaps adopted as it's found later in various places as late as the 14th century often used in folk magic with a loose relationship to Christianity. It is thought that Sator could indicate Saturn. But yes Serapis worship too.
SO, he was a pretty boy waving his wand around. Great critique of early Christianity, wonder if the Nicaean council changed the art. After the discovery of anatomy, some art depicted Jesuses with bulging muscles! Totally ripped, and so were the Angels!
I like the narration of the guy. But the theses he comes up with is not that good nor accurate. 1) It's still undetermined what Rotas squares really meant and what their uses were. Since the most earliest are dated to Pompeii in buildings that were likely built as early as the BC/BCE era it is unlikely Christian in origin. There are many possibilities among them is Sator meaning Saturn. Could be a fertility thing. Many religions and cults through ancient times used codes and word games, writing itself dating from Egypt was often considered magical in its own right; this is preserved in English in our word to spell, which could also be used to cast a spell. So yes, all religions used codes, particularly in a society that apparently had so few literate people compared to today. 2) Constantine didn't make Christianity a state religion, he made it legal. Theodosius made Christianity a the state religion. 3) 51:00 That's not what discerns the Western European dark age... but you can actually see it in the art from 600CE to even 1500CE which includes the dark ages and the middle ages. Perspective in art was lost. It wasn't rediscovered until the Renaissance ie. reason to call it the "rebirth" as old technologies lost were rediscovered. But more profound about the dark ages is that some technological understanding was lost, literacy was declined significantly, and technological implementations were lost. It doesn't mean the people who experienced the dark aged couldn't make anything beautiful though. 4) Art doesn't lie. WTF? From ancient Egypt to modern day propaganda has existed in art in sculpture, engravings, paintings, music, etc. That's why art is extensively used in advertising. Art often employs deception, illusion from the ancient Parthenon's columns actually wider at their base in Greece to today's Disney Land Castle illusion to make it look larger than it really is which is completely destroyed when you get up close. This episode was a bit inaccurate or misspoken in several parts.
Thank you. It is Indigenous Peoples Day today in the U.S. And when he speaks about the Christians as Martyrs (about 40:00 min. mark), I have to think of all the minimizing of Indigenous Peoples and the torment, killing and torture of many peoples to advance causes. Not unlike a Football team, as if these versions of Personifying the unknown was cause to take resources and lives from neighbors. I am working on finishing an MFA and taking as much undergrad Art History and Political Science as I can. I am unsure how to persevere while consuming modern day story telling. We are engaging in "rebranding" of Iconography and entertainment to convey how to move forward in a major cultural jam of technology and story and survival. Best to us all. May the odds be in your favor. It is like one big lottery. And to watch these amazing retellings, is to be the judge and jury of history. It is quite heady stuff!
Love his series in general, but this time his declarations and conclusions about meaning of many elements are not well researched. Not his best work, but still some rarely seen and remarkable artwork.
Konstantin did not convert to Christianity In the year 313. In this year he ushered the edict of tolerance of Milan. His attitude towards Christianty is controversial and obviously underwent some development in so far as he favoured this religion more and more without forbidding other religions. As far as I was informed he was baptized on his deathbed. Christianity became the official state religion only in 380 by the emperor Theodosius. Why doesn't the presenter never explain the meaning of the fish? Ichthys meaning fish in Greek. But it is an acronym for Jesus Christ the son of God and redemptor. The presenter lacks historical advising. For instance the arch of Konstantin is devoid of any christian symbolism. And there may be reasons forthis fact.
#1) You are right that Constantine was baptized on his death bed, but he did construct churches during his reign in promoting Christianity as the official religion of the Empire. He also continued in his official capacity as a priest in the pagan tradition as did all Senators. #2) The acronym for ends with Savior (σωτήρας), NOT "redemptor" (λυτρωτής). And why would Waldemer want to share the acronym anyways??? He is sharing the SYMBOL (artistic symbol) as the point....NOT the acronym!!! #3) Waldemer presents the Arch of Constantine as mere evidence of Constantine's penchant to build big...really big. That is the point...NOT that it represents anything Christian!!! Project much?! Last but not least, #4) before you go on to accuse anyone for lack of "historical advising," you may want to clean up your own mistakes first!!! Just a suggestion.
Is TH-cam interrupting this every minute or two with commercials for everyone, or is it only happening to me? There seems to be far more commercials on TH-cam than on regular television. So sad!
@@moussa.ibrahim Friend, thank you. From what I'm seeing via Google search, the ad blockers seem to cost money and the Vanced TH-cam app seems to be for android phones. I'm not a technical person and I only have an old laptop computer. Is there any ad blocker that is free?
the problem with the theory about the first depictions of jesus is they depict him as a roman, not as a jew. therefore looking at those images as more accurate is itself inaccurate. jesus has rarely ever been depicted as a semite from palestine in the first century ad. also i find it strange that historians seem to play down the persecutions, when every single important early christian that we know of was killed including jesus. yeah, the romans obviously killed christians.
I think Waldemer knows better, if he was being truthful about having been educated in a Catholic school. The faithful don't worship the scull of Agnes. Agnes is venerated not worshipped..
and people dont say xmas ...because of a greek letter they say xmas because they don't want to say CHRISTmas. that is just the story they came up to cover themselves but just google "offensive Xmas cards" and see the vileness that comes up...
There are others that proclaimed to show this art but yours is the best. In fact, one program does it have the first picture the the same as most others?.
You might make a Believer out ot me. A Believer in you, Walemir. Where did these programs first run? BBC? Channel 4? I am in the US of A. So not real familiar with the Brit system. But I am familiar with The Guardian. Wikipedia says you resided there once. Great work. So pleased I found your work. Love how you have people waling by the paintings to keep it Real.
Great documentary, but the title ... you might as well say "money as an artistic force:. If Walt Disney had ruled the renaissance, Michelangelo would have painted Disneyland.
Al little consultation with Eastern Orthodox icon painters would have helped him avoid the monstrously inaccurate conclusions he has leapt to in this "documentary". And icons and saints are not worshipped - they are venerated. HUGE, HUGE difference.
I enjoy and learn much from Waldemar's documentaries but he consistently misrepresents how Catholics interact with icons and relics - saying that we "worship them" or "pray to them" and that martyrs "had power" and "could change history" - no they don't, and we don't pray to them or their relics, or worship them. The most rudimentary research on Catholic theology would make this very clear!
You just skipped the entire byzantine period of artistic production. Spherical coverage of the history of art. Just ignoring a huge chapter of that history. So illuminating that you are!!
@14:30 ... since muslims cannot depict God or Muhammed, did they do something similar to Jonah - a pictorial "stand-in" for Muhammed? I didn't hear any reference in your film on Islamic art.
I love this explanation of the evolution of the figure of Jesus, who must be the most widely depicted figure in the history of Western art. It really strikes me how much of what is supposed to be Christian tradition is actually borrowed from Paganism. There is easily just as much or an even greater amount of tradition borrowed from paganism as there is from Judaism, at least in art and iconography. It makes sense. Outside of Israel, the world as it was known at the time was overwhelminly pagan. People respond to what makes sense to them. People understood paganism. And I am sure that a Paganized Gospel was a more enticing gospel to the Gentiles in the Mediterranean world. Also we see a Jesus as teacher and miracle worker in early Christian art and not as much the living sacrifice Paul made him out to be. It makes me wonder whether Paul's letters were known to these early artists. The Council of Nicea was only a few decades prior. Not sure if we know exactly what people in the 5th century thought about the Gospels or if they even knew the 4 gospels currently in the canon. There are clues about earlier documents now lost (such as Quella) upon which the gospels were based. These may have been better known at the time. I am just wondering aloud. I am no expert. But I love studying the evolution of early Christendom across the Mediterranean. We can see how it still shapes western culture even to this day, and how so many of the assumptions about Jesus that we were taught as children may now be challenged by relatively recent archeological discoveries. This is all thought provoking. Thank You for this wonderful series! 👍🏻👍🏻☮️
It s called the "Dark Ages" , (as opposed to the "bad" or lousy times) after they occurred; when humanity had experienced better life and progressed, making the past "dark" in comparison. The difference really is when humanity went from supernatural(ist) beliefs and philosophy to natural(ist) and humanist (secular) beliefs and philosophy. The key to everything progressive, then and now, is to (finally and naturally) reject, dismiss or avoid supernatural beliefs, religions, superstitions and unproven beliefs of ALL types AND we could even have a new ENLIGHTENMENT by recognizing the BIGGEST mistake in human history and ensuing fraud of supernatural belief today in any way, shape or form. That's the key to universal environmental, social and philosophical success - completely dump false data you happen to collect and detect and reasonably don't tolerate it in self or others - for goodness' sake.
@@sanniepstein4835 "Viciously attack all who question them" is the theocratic way. Theocracy is totalitarian, religious-based tyranny AT IT's WORST because supernatural phenomena are unaccountable and irresponsible to the People. God(s) don't exist, so EVERYTHING based on that belief is similarly sheer fraud and the frauders have had quite a run with their little fraud, huh? That's all theocrats, theocracy and religion as we know it is about: sheer and shameless, intractable fraud.
@@reginald_1458 Not if they know such behavior invariably is self-defeating. That's the practical reason for not being fraudulent, as you know I'm sure. That stops fraud altogether, in the best possible way too. It's just a lack of consciousness, knowledge, maturity or awareness and/or mistaken amorality, but in any and all cases, self-defeating. Fraud stops like all lies stop. The life of lies is mortal, as it were. They ALL end.
@@jeffwalther3935 you underestimate the human ego. Original christain belief was built around the philosophy of reason and logic. Where did that go? Every idea/ideology is corruptible and peoples bias will always sway them from "truth"
It breaks my heart when a being portray as The All Creator who He creates things that can't be portrayed by any being. - The All Creator - Things that can't be portrayed by being (ex: heaven) - Being
Really enjoy this channel. I'm a fellow brit, familiar with this style of jounalese. I love love love the content, but find the style and manner frankly hilarious, I mean this in a fond way. The music, the tone of voice, so male, intellectual, slightly aggressive and ballsy sounding. 🙂Do we need to be so dramatic? This information would have me captivated without the drama. Personally I take things in better and enjoy content more when it's presented with tranquility ❤️
Girl you miss the whole point. He presents it that way for a reason. He's against the pretense in the art world. He's against the bougie take over of art, leisure, thought, interpretation of art, literature etc. He presents this way as a type of middle finger to the establishment. He's the rock n roll (sort of speak) of the art world. The whole point is to bring youth and passion back into the artworld. Although he himself is conservative in thought he presents to the youthful more liberal thought process. He isn't here to placate and pacify the emotionally and mentally dysfunctional. Come to think of it, no one of substance is. His whole point is to break past all that bs and bring intellect, passion, emotion, allegory and imagination back to the common man.
Waldemar, he's such a wonderful teacher. How fortunate we all are to have these great videos available to us.
Imagine you're 4 years old, and you have Waldemar as your nanny / babysitter. And he begins to tell you story after story about history and art history in particular. What would you want to grow up as? An accountant? Nah! A banker? Nah! A Dentist? Nah!! An Artist? Well Duh! How could you want to be anything but an artist, after you'd listened to him expound its beautiful intricate historical tapestry and intrigue of the world of art? You listen to Waldemar, and all you want to do is run away with the circus, and paint your life away!
Waldermar , would you adopt us all?
Thank you.@SPDOCS
Dreamer 😮
@@WandaMartingaga Yup!
@@StephiSensei26 - You go, girl! Reënchant the world. Paint it inspired in your colours.
This is so outstanding! So original, so informative! Thanks to Waldemar, who is sheer brilliance!
I love his approach...like a bulldozer to history...let's see what else is under what we've been told!
Fabulous! I can watch them over and over.
Get a life
watching from Wyoming as well . we need all the culture we can get.
Hi Mickey-I used to live across the street from your folks in R-town I think. How ironic that I saw your comment here of all places.
Hey we do in Florida too, right on man.
Dear Waldemar,
I started out learning history in elementary school. Then, in high school, ancient history. Again when I switched schools, I got the same cavalcade from my art teacher. Then again in art college, in my course, A Survey of Western Art...so I sort of went from cave paintings to counter- reformation three times over, and now I have found YOU!
I'm a painter/ sculptor/romantic kind of average schmo, and I just simply love your documentaries.
Is that what you'd call them? Lessons? Lectures with show and tell? Whatever, I can't pull myself away from these. This is my second go- round with this ROTAS installment, and I'm getting even more out of it.
Thank you. It's a wonder to be getting into senior citizen age ( just 6 months shy!) And to be able to so sincerely congratulate a much younger person on a job so well done. I don't know how you ever studied so much, or thought so much about how to house the huge inventory of your knowledge in a package with dramatic structure and accessible narrative. You know, I daresay you have made high- level intellectual learning as easy and consumable as coronation street, or antiques road show, or the baking contests...you are that good!
I hope you don't take offence by the comparison. I think you should host Saturday night Live, or moderate a presidential debate, or be the next Canadian prime minister. That's how high a place I'm putting you. If you were any better, you'd be demi- god.
Way to go, Youngster!
As an agnostic, I loved your chronography of Christian art and its evolution from youth to grave.
Same here, it actually confirmed my non belief in a deity.
Thank you for the education. You make me think, which is not easy at times. More education Please.
This is one of my favorite Waldemar docs!
i love how in every comment section of this entire series there seems to be a competition in praising Waldemar
learned so much more than just art, thank you the Perspective team!
God gave us Jesus Christ but he gave us scientific knowledge as well. Exploring religions now from a scientific point of view we have to realize, they are all a compilation of warnings, of how we need to learn to build up a symbiotic relationship with the Holy Creation, it's not casual that human beings have this strong sense for beauty, we must get involved saving beauty before we lose everything, watching together such awesome productions might help a lot, l am the biggest supporter of yours guys
I love the way you explain and talk to us. So clear and so plain. Thanks . I love your videos.
The "Dark Ages" were the pinnacle of western civilization. The "Renaissance" was not a "rebirth", but the continuation and final period of the Middle Ages.
I love these documentaries!! Put things in perspective and helps understand the modern world!
.
Love your videos 💞.
You share so much history. And artwork! Thank you so much!
so illuminating, this analysis of early christian art. Brilliant. And like all these videos, so well presented and accessible.
Recommended this to my friend in Split, Croatia, where they were celebrating the Feast of St. Dujm or St. Domnius who cathedral there was built in 300 or 400 AD on the very burial site of the emperor who martyred Domnius. This great video is on point for them.
Brilliant, insightful and worth every second. Rarely do I say that
art and architecture explained together, thank you!!
Wish I was in touch with my archetecture friends from college
A wonderful documentary, but I do wish it hadn't neglected the split between the Eastern and Western Churches, particularly in relation to the affect that had on the understanding of religious art. But, of course, that alone is a significant project by itself, and there were time constraints. When he touched on Gibbon I thought he might go there, but it is true that Gibbon himself only touched on a bit, though he did take it further than the documentary did.
I can remember my grandfather telling me they were called the Dark Ages, not because things were gloomy or the light was dim, but because not much was known about those times, since the obessive record-keeping of Rome was over, and Europe was not yet widely literate.
And because the Allahuakbar pirates kept European ships from getting to the towns that sold paper.
Actually, Hegel needed them to be dark, so that after it could enter the age of light, Enlightenment. In many a story, they still go with that perspective.
Interesting!
They have also been called The Age of Faith.
@@kiwitrainguy excellent
The rotas stone posted outside reminded me of the the Jewish mezuzah: In mainstream Rabbinic Judaism, a mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to "write the words of God on the gates and doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9). (Wikipedia) That there were no Christian images in early Christianity makes sense given the 1st Commandment against such. I wonder why he didn't mention these things at the beginning. But ... it's interesting.
Yes, he seems to have completely ignored the fact that so many of the early Christians were of Jewish heritage and that the absence of early depictions of Jesus were not driven by promotional cautions but by Jewish tradition and Mosaic law. The emergence of images of Christ on the cross had nothing to do with a change in theology regarding suffering, because the teaching regarding the suffering servant Messiah go back 800 years before Christ to Isaiah chapter 53. This was His mission, not an afterthought. Jesus, Himself told His disciples that He would suffer and be killed. Funny how modern critics ignore that detail when they come up with their theories. Was that just bad research or did his explanation sound more dramatic for a video online?
Thanks!
There is NO ONE in my life like Jesus. My love for Him is so intense and so calming, that painting out my feelings about Him just feels right. I know people who say any images of Jesus/God are graven images and we shouldn't worship graven images. I agree that we should not worship these created images. My creations are simply visual love songs/homages to my MOST BELOVED. When Jesus said that if His devotees did not sing out their love for Him (Luke 19:40), the stones might cry out, I totally get this. My canvases are simply stones to spill out my feelings upon. They are not graven images to be worshiped.
I could watch Waldemar talk about anything! He is the best teacher I’ve ever had 😊
Wonderful to have access to this just brilliant thank you
With Janus I always find out something new that breaks the myths we are all forced to believe.
We're not forced to believe, thank God. You either tune in or not. And myths do not break, they either fade away or become bolder and stronger and more life-affirming.
Teenagers today: "Edgy! A SKULL ring! No one's ever worn one of these before!"
Waldemar: "Hold my ancient-jewelry box."
Have enjoyed this over and over again. Thank you for making this wonderful video.
Absolutely amazing! Thank you so much!
thankyou for this wonderful knowledge, i'll share this in my art group
Waldemar has become my favourite art history teacher!
Love this channel, not sure if it’s just me but there’s an add every 2 minutes!!
Take the marker to the end of the video and then hit replay 👍
Pay $10 a month for premium. No ads.
@@shirleypeters thanks I didn’t even know there was a premium TH-cam
@@keylupveintisiete7552 Thanks!! Great tip🙃
@@adamadams6740 Even simpler. Use an addblocker. Those are for free
YOU ARE THE BEST THING ON U TUBE
Love all the episodes, but this one - one of the favorite.
You never disappoint Januszczak :) Very interesting documentary but I must say, I love the soundtracks! Where can I find them? Can any one point me in the right direction? Much appreciated!
Love this! Watching from Wyoming-Thank You!🙋🏼♀️
Groetjes van Antwerpen Melanie O'Hara.
There's another one in these comments from Wyoming as well.
No-one but Waldemar could bring those early days alive for us.
It was a Interesting small step back in time seeing the Roman image of Jesus and then the catholic image. It's also interesting that he was Jewish and my Jewish friends deny he even existed.
Waldamer is the best...
@ 34:57 Constantine is sporting a corn pad on his little toe....yet another example of Roman ingenuity.
What a wonderful Teacher you are I mean that...Thanks..
Origin of wordle revealed? Thought I had seen all of Waldermar's videos but somehow had missed this one. Always so educational in a delightful way. Love them all.
Monreale is wonderful - but if you visit don't miss the cloisters. The top of every column is a masterpiece.
This man is the detective of artists….
Waldemar is just a total expert educator and entertainer
Thank you for posting this video. Stay safe and healthy
God bless you.
You've hit on all of topics in the modern zeitgeist. A documentary that has brilliantly dated itself and is surely of it's time.
How was it determined that the early Jesus had blond hair? And, thank you so much for this series; I'm enjoying it so much.
A lot of ancient statues were painted, so maybe they detected some paint on some of his sculptures that were blonde colored.
Because blond was very rare, not unknown but rare, in this area!
@@catofthecastle1681 Apart from Europeans who converted to Judaism, then a centuries later moved to lsraeI, blonds were probably more common in Jesus' day than today, due to the number of European slaves.
The Greeks conquered that area hundreds of years before bringing many Europeans to that land. Plus tons of trade through ships had societies interconnected
Since jews did not marry out, and since they were able to hide out in Egypt, I doubt that Jesus or his parents were blonde.
I absolutely adore your videos and so also this one - I have always been attracted to the very eatly art and this one is just a wonder of opening into the early imagining, mysteries and symbols 🎶🖤🎵
so many outstanding, interesting docs; this one has particularly frequent ads
Wonderful teacher!
Too many ads. I love this presenter, WaldemarJ. I can’t deal with so many ads interrupting his presentation. I can not afford paid TH-cam. Social security does not give us old folks enough
Download Adblock , it's free , I never have any ads on You Tube.
Early Christians were aware that crucifixion was shameful.
And what a great shame Jesus transcended.
☺ fascinating subject and presenter
The Bible gives many clues of Jesus's appearance. He is descendant from King David who was a handsome curly, blonde man, The gospel tells that he was bearded, apocalypse described that his skin was like bronze and his hair was white like wool, Isaiah tells his appearance was transformed, and he lost human appearance due to the sores and so on.
uh... there is a HUGE difference between "clues" and FACT. Nice try.
@@bradbray1737 obviously because the Bible are not books for searching and confirming what Jesus looks like but to find Jesús's revelation, the kingdom of God, his gosple and salvation. Blessings.
"Art never lies". Quite a bold claim; but is it true?
No, it isn't. As much as I like Waldemar, this made me roll my eyes to hard it hurt. Clearly bullshit.
art, like life, depicts an endless array of subject matter. However, one could argue that there is honest art from below (aka the common working person) and art from above (aka the wealthy and powerful). Honest art from below tells the truth about life. Art from above is PROPAGANDA...period. It tells you what the rich and powerful want you to know!!!
In this context, it is. Context is important.
There's two ways to look at it. 1) Art expresses the understanding and intention, passion and ideals of the artists faithfully, the inside spirit projecting out and given physical manifestation, or 2) Art corresponds faithfully to the "actual state of affairs, "the facts of the matter", "the truth". The second is trickier because we never get to a final, exclusive, complete "truth". Or 3) Art can be deliberate, conscious, crafty propaganda meant to influence emotions and perceptions and motivations in deceitful ways, like we get with the Nazis or Soviets or today's mainstream media news ridiculous coverage of events like 9/11 or "War on Terror" or Gaza... Or commercials to influence you to buy their junk... Or preachers like Hagee to get you to support Israel no matter what horrors they do...
@@TorMax9 I'll take your first two categories and chuck out the third as not falling into the realm of art at all. Art has been made about the Arab/Israeli conflict, and when done well this can increase empathy, understanding and broad-mindedness. However, it's no substitute for the facts and shouldn't be expected to fill a didactic or even an ethical role. Art is first and foremost an observation, not an imposition of will, which must take the secondary place. Therein lies its honesty: it is one of the few modes of human communication in which the predetermined objective doesn't always have pride of place, which can capture a moment of true contemplation.
This prairie really blew my mind omg
Waldemar 🥰
I went there. Priscilla Catacombs. I did. Just boasting. Great series Channel 4. Thanks.
Trouble is the Empire was already split in two. And at a certain point during Constantine's reign, it had three emperors, Constantine being one of them, in the West. His idea was not to further devide, but rather to reunite the empire under his rule - one emperor, one faith, one church. He did that by killing off the others (one was his brother-in-law) and creating a new centre of power bearing his name and stamp - Constantinople.
Hey, if you don't want the Gibbon Volumes @ 51:05, can I have them?
The rotas square could even be a meditation upon Serapis. He too was a myth but was also known as Christos. Great vid tho as usual. Wonderful stuff.
Since Rotas squares were found in Pompeii in some buildings that were likely built in the BCE period, it is unlikely a Christian symbol at least in the beginning, perhaps adopted as it's found later in various places as late as the 14th century often used in folk magic with a loose relationship to Christianity.
It is thought that Sator could indicate Saturn. But yes Serapis worship too.
Funny you should say that when they actually showed a statue of Serapis Christus in the video. He never points it out but he does zoom in on it.
This is some low-key Medieval Historical Theology.
SO, he was a pretty boy waving his wand around. Great critique of early Christianity, wonder if the
Nicaean council changed the art. After the discovery of anatomy, some art depicted Jesuses with
bulging muscles! Totally ripped, and so were the Angels!
Buenas noches, lo tienen en el idioma español ???
Agradezco su atención
I like the narration of the guy. But the theses he comes up with is not that good nor accurate.
1) It's still undetermined what Rotas squares really meant and what their uses were. Since the most earliest are dated to Pompeii in buildings that were likely built as early as the BC/BCE era it is unlikely Christian in origin. There are many possibilities among them is Sator meaning Saturn. Could be a fertility thing. Many religions and cults through ancient times used codes and word games, writing itself dating from Egypt was often considered magical in its own right; this is preserved in English in our word to spell, which could also be used to cast a spell.
So yes, all religions used codes, particularly in a society that apparently had so few literate people compared to today.
2) Constantine didn't make Christianity a state religion, he made it legal. Theodosius made Christianity a the state religion.
3) 51:00 That's not what discerns the Western European dark age... but you can actually see it in the art from 600CE to even 1500CE which includes the dark ages and the middle ages. Perspective in art was lost. It wasn't rediscovered until the Renaissance ie. reason to call it the "rebirth" as old technologies lost were rediscovered.
But more profound about the dark ages is that some technological understanding was lost, literacy was declined significantly, and technological implementations were lost.
It doesn't mean the people who experienced the dark aged couldn't make anything beautiful though.
4) Art doesn't lie.
WTF?
From ancient Egypt to modern day propaganda has existed in art in sculpture, engravings, paintings, music, etc. That's why art is extensively used in advertising.
Art often employs deception, illusion from the ancient Parthenon's columns actually wider at their base in Greece to today's Disney Land Castle illusion to make it look larger than it really is which is completely destroyed when you get up close.
This episode was a bit inaccurate or misspoken in several parts.
You make many good points but you took the "art doesn't lie" comment too literally.
Thank you. It is Indigenous Peoples Day today in the U.S. And when he speaks about the Christians as Martyrs (about 40:00 min. mark), I have to think of all the minimizing of Indigenous Peoples and the torment, killing and torture of many peoples to advance causes. Not unlike a Football team, as if these versions of Personifying the unknown was cause to take resources and lives from neighbors. I am working on finishing an MFA and taking as much undergrad Art History and Political Science as I can.
I am unsure how to persevere while consuming modern day story telling. We are engaging in "rebranding" of Iconography and entertainment to convey how to move forward in a major cultural jam of technology and story and survival.
Best to us all. May the odds be in your favor. It is like one big lottery. And to watch these amazing retellings, is to be the judge and jury of history. It is quite heady stuff!
WTF! So tired of know it alls! Make your own video if you don’t like these!
Love his series in general, but this time his declarations and conclusions about meaning of many elements are not well researched. Not his best work, but still some rarely seen and remarkable artwork.
I didn't know Tenet came from this .. mind blown.
The oldest known portrait of Jesus is in Syria and dates to about 235.
Konstantin did not convert to Christianity In the year 313. In this year he ushered the edict of tolerance of Milan. His attitude towards Christianty is controversial and obviously underwent some development in so far as he favoured this religion more and more without forbidding other religions. As far as I was informed he was baptized on his deathbed. Christianity became the official state religion only in 380 by the emperor Theodosius.
Why doesn't the presenter never explain the meaning of the fish? Ichthys meaning fish in Greek. But it is an acronym for Jesus Christ the son of God and redemptor.
The presenter lacks historical advising. For instance the arch of Konstantin is devoid of any christian symbolism. And there may be reasons forthis fact.
#1) You are right that Constantine was baptized on his death bed, but he did construct churches during his reign in promoting Christianity as the official religion of the Empire. He also continued in his official capacity as a priest in the pagan tradition as did all Senators. #2) The acronym for ends with Savior (σωτήρας), NOT "redemptor" (λυτρωτής). And why would Waldemer want to share the acronym anyways??? He is sharing the SYMBOL (artistic symbol) as the point....NOT the acronym!!! #3) Waldemer presents the Arch of Constantine as mere evidence of Constantine's penchant to build big...really big. That is the point...NOT that it represents anything Christian!!! Project much?! Last but not least, #4) before you go on to accuse anyone for lack of "historical advising," you may want to clean up your own mistakes first!!! Just a suggestion.
Phenomenal doc
Is TH-cam interrupting this every minute or two with commercials for everyone, or is it only happening to me? There seems to be far more commercials on TH-cam than on regular television. So sad!
Friend, use an ad blocker, or download the Vanced youtube app.
@@moussa.ibrahim Friend, thank you. From what I'm seeing via Google search, the ad blockers seem to cost money and the Vanced TH-cam app seems to be for android phones. I'm not a technical person and I only have an old laptop computer. Is there any ad blocker that is free?
@@timward3116 yes, many good ones are free. What browser on your laptop do you use? And what smartphone, if any, do you have?
the problem with the theory about the first depictions of jesus is they depict him as a roman, not as a jew. therefore looking at those images as more accurate is itself inaccurate. jesus has rarely ever been depicted as a semite from palestine in the first century ad. also i find it strange that historians seem to play down the persecutions, when every single important early christian that we know of was killed including jesus. yeah, the romans obviously killed christians.
I think Waldemer knows better, if he was being truthful about having been educated in a Catholic school. The faithful don't worship the scull of Agnes. Agnes is venerated not worshipped..
and people dont say xmas ...because of a greek letter they say xmas because they don't want to say CHRISTmas. that is just the story they came up to cover themselves but just google "offensive Xmas cards" and see the vileness that comes up...
@@merryarttoonesakamarysusan559😂😂😂
Different views.
There are others that proclaimed to show this art but yours is the best. In fact, one program does it have the first picture the the same as most others?.
You might make a Believer out ot me. A Believer in you, Walemir. Where did these programs first run? BBC? Channel 4? I am in the US of A. So not real familiar with the Brit system. But I am familiar with The Guardian. Wikipedia says you resided there once.
Great work. So pleased I found your work. Love how you have people waling by the paintings to keep it Real.
Everything worth watching is on TH-cam.
It is Waldemar.
Great documentary, but the title ... you might as well say "money as an artistic force:. If Walt Disney had ruled the renaissance, Michelangelo would have painted Disneyland.
Al little consultation with Eastern Orthodox icon painters would have helped him avoid the monstrously inaccurate conclusions he has leapt to in this "documentary". And icons and saints are not worshipped - they are venerated. HUGE, HUGE difference.
"HUGE, HUGE difference."
(laughs, snorts milk through nose)
@@yohei72 I am not surprised that you tend to snort ;)
I enjoy and learn much from Waldemar's documentaries but he consistently misrepresents how Catholics interact with icons and relics - saying that we "worship them" or "pray to them" and that martyrs "had power" and "could change history" - no they don't, and we don't pray to them or their relics, or worship them. The most rudimentary research on Catholic theology would make this very clear!
You just skipped the entire byzantine period of artistic production. Spherical coverage of the history of art. Just ignoring a huge chapter of that history. So illuminating that you are!!
Excellent, love this guy and this content! ,Although I may not agree with all the interpretation ,re= Eastern And Western-
do something about amount/disruptive placement of advertisements!
@14:30 ... since muslims cannot depict God or Muhammed, did they do something similar to Jonah - a pictorial "stand-in" for Muhammed? I didn't hear any reference in your film on Islamic art.
2:54 'Art never lies' Mark Rothko, Damien Hirst, Jackson Pollock
But interpretation of it.. Hehehe does
somebody lied when they said damien hirst is an artist.
Drinking game idea: Take a shot everytime Januszczak explains something on the floor
Take a shot every time a fuckin ad pops up
I’ll play 😀
[the floor version, not the ad version. If we played the ad version, we’d die] 🐿
@Kat Harper ha ha awesome
@Kat Harper definitely a win win 🐿
Thank you.
I love this explanation of the evolution of the figure of Jesus, who must be the most widely depicted figure in the history of Western art. It really strikes me how much of what is supposed to be Christian tradition is actually borrowed from Paganism.
There is easily just as much or an even greater amount of tradition borrowed from paganism as there is from Judaism, at least in art and iconography. It makes sense. Outside of Israel, the world as it was known at the time was overwhelminly pagan.
People respond to what makes sense to them. People understood paganism. And I am sure that a Paganized Gospel was a more enticing gospel to the Gentiles in the Mediterranean world. Also we see a Jesus as teacher and miracle worker in early Christian art and not as much the living sacrifice Paul made him out to be. It makes me wonder whether Paul's letters were known to these early artists. The Council of Nicea was only a few decades prior. Not sure if we know exactly what people in the 5th century thought about the Gospels or if they even knew the 4 gospels currently in the canon.
There are clues about earlier documents now lost (such as Quella) upon which the gospels were based. These may have been better known at the time. I am just wondering aloud. I am no expert. But I love studying the evolution of early Christendom across the Mediterranean. We can see how it still shapes western culture even to this day, and how so many of the assumptions about Jesus that we were taught as children may now be challenged by relatively recent archeological discoveries. This is all thought provoking. Thank You for this wonderful series! 👍🏻👍🏻☮️
It s called the "Dark Ages" , (as opposed to the "bad" or lousy times) after they occurred; when humanity had experienced better life and progressed, making the past "dark" in comparison. The difference really is when humanity went from supernatural(ist) beliefs and philosophy to natural(ist) and humanist (secular) beliefs and philosophy. The key to everything progressive, then and now, is to (finally and naturally) reject, dismiss or avoid supernatural beliefs, religions, superstitions and unproven beliefs of ALL types AND we could even have a new ENLIGHTENMENT by recognizing the BIGGEST mistake in human history and ensuing fraud of supernatural belief today in any way, shape or form. That's the key to universal environmental, social and philosophical success - completely dump false data you happen to collect and detect and reasonably don't tolerate it in self or others - for goodness' sake.
Instead we have social and political cults that are not honest enough to present themselves as faiths yet viciously attack all who question them.
@@sanniepstein4835 "Viciously attack all who question them" is the theocratic way. Theocracy is totalitarian, religious-based tyranny AT IT's WORST because supernatural phenomena are unaccountable and irresponsible to the People. God(s) don't exist, so EVERYTHING based on that belief is similarly sheer fraud and the frauders have had quite a run with their little fraud, huh? That's all theocrats, theocracy and religion as we know it is about: sheer and shameless, intractable fraud.
@@jeffwalther3935 humans will be frauds no matter the religion or ideology driving those frauds. Will all be the same
@@reginald_1458 Not if they know such behavior invariably is self-defeating. That's the practical reason for not being fraudulent, as you know I'm sure. That stops fraud altogether, in the best possible way too. It's just a lack of consciousness, knowledge, maturity or awareness and/or mistaken amorality, but in any and all cases, self-defeating. Fraud stops like all lies stop. The life of lies is mortal, as it were. They ALL end.
@@jeffwalther3935 you underestimate the human ego. Original christain belief was built around the philosophy of reason and logic. Where did that go? Every idea/ideology is corruptible and peoples bias will always sway them from "truth"
It breaks my heart when a being portray as The All Creator who He creates things that can't be portrayed by any being.
- The All Creator
- Things that can't be portrayed by being (ex: heaven)
- Being
My main question for someone with an elongated skull. "How often do you feel headaches?"
Religion is a farce but the Art is nice.
Really enjoy this channel. I'm a fellow brit, familiar with this style of jounalese. I love love love the content, but find the style and manner frankly hilarious, I mean this in a fond way. The music, the tone of voice, so male, intellectual, slightly aggressive and ballsy sounding. 🙂Do we need to be so dramatic? This information would have me captivated without the drama. Personally I take things in better and enjoy content more when it's presented with tranquility ❤️
Girl you miss the whole point. He presents it that way for a reason. He's against the pretense in the art world. He's against the bougie take over of art, leisure, thought, interpretation of art, literature etc. He presents this way as a type of middle finger to the establishment. He's the rock n roll (sort of speak) of the art world. The whole point is to bring youth and passion back into the artworld. Although he himself is conservative in thought he presents to the youthful more liberal thought process. He isn't here to placate and pacify the emotionally and mentally dysfunctional. Come to think of it, no one of substance is. His whole point is to break past all that bs and bring intellect, passion, emotion, allegory and imagination back to the common man.
If you wan "tranquillity", go to the Hallmark channel.
Do your own then!
Americans love this we have been in the dark so long we find it refreshing.
Bravo!
Waldemar is a fantastic person
The Shroud has ad a lot of new evidence since this was made.
sources and verification please???
How do I get rid of the ads?
Islam " a joyous and inventive religion !!! " perhaps a thousand years ago , but its lost a lot of ground since then ,
Good
I love this guy!!
Roger Scruton has a lock on this topic, oh, damn