Post #4 – Lecture Native Americans through Gothic Architecture

Throughout the last couple classes we talked a lot about native american storytelling and different types of architecture. 

Storytelling was an important part of Native American culture. Their ways of telling stories would be very in touch with nature, often more spiritual. It was more performative, and preserved their culture. Everybody could get involved, which fueled the stories with more passion. Native Americans had a very raw, personal way of sharing stories. Unfortunately, nowadays we don’t see that type of passion and emotion in stories. Musicals like The Lion King are one of the few ways we can still Native Americans storytelling influence in action today. 

Architecture has changed so much over the centuries and has affected how we tell stories over the years. Ancient Greece set the scene with their impressive feats and engineering. They made the Amphitheater, a technologically advanced stage that separated the actor and the audience. The Greeks also introduced the idea of awards, stock characters, and so much more. Rome then took it upon themselves to one up the Greeks, and they built the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon. The Circus Maximus was built to house chariot races, and introduced a new separation among viewers. The spectators were now being divided by class. The Colosseum, a massive, technologically advanced arena, was used for anything from gladiator battles, to animal battles, to even naval battles. There the audience was then separated by not only class but also gender. Thousands would come to watch as scenes of horror would unfold below them. The Pantheon was another feat of architecture design, but not in a stage/audience sense. It was impressive because of its dome. Its structure and design inspired many future builds, including the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. All this paved the way for Gothic Cathedrals to become possible. 

Gothic Architecture is a direct result of buildings like the Hagia Sophia and the Pantheon. Gothic Cathedrals were characterized by high vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, flying buttresses, and their cross shape. They were built so that everything about them was related to the Catholic Church or God. It was designed to make anyone present feel closer to the heavens and their faith.