A Homeric Catalogue of Shapes: The Iliad and Odyssey Seen DifferentlyIn the popular imagination, Homer as author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, epitomises poetic genius. So, when scholars proposed that the Homeric epics were not the unique creation of an individual author, but instead reflected a traditional compositional system developed by generations of singer-poets, swathes of assumptions about the poems and their 'author' were swept aside and called into question. Much had to be re-evaluated through a new lens. The creative process described by scholars for the Homeric epics shares many key attributes with the modern visual art-forms of collage and its less familiar variant: sculptural assemblage. A Homeric Catalogue of Shapes describes a series of twelve sculptures that together function as an abstract portrait of Homer: not a depiction of him as an individual, but as a compositional system. The technique by which the artworks were produced reflects the poetic method that scholars termed oral-formulaic. In both of these creative processes the artwork is constructed from pre-existing elements: such as phrases, characters, and plot-lines in the epics; and objects, fragmented items, and borrowed forms in the sculptures. The artist/author presents a largely unknown characterisation of Homeric poetics in a manner that emphasizes the extent and complexity of this Homer's artistry. |
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
2 A Homeric Object | 37 |
3 Sculptural Assemblage and the Composite Object Portrait | 53 |
4 Homeric Iconographies | 69 |
Descriptive Catalogue of Artworks | 87 |
THE WARRIORS | 90 |
THE WIVES | 103 |
THE DEITIES | 110 |
THE KINGS | 124 |
6 A Composite Object Portrait of an OralFormulaic Homer | 133 |
Conclusion | 159 |
Notes | 165 |
197 | |
215 | |
Other editions - View all
A Homeric Catalogue of Shapes: The Iliad and Odyssey Seen Differently Charlayn von Solms Limited preview - 2019 |
A Homeric Catalogue of Shapes: The Iliad and Odyssey Seen Differently Charlayn von Solms No preview available - 2021 |
A Homeric Catalogue of Shapes: The Iliad and Odyssey Seen Differently Charlayn von Solms No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract Achilles African allow ancient Antiquity appear approach appropriation argues art-forms artists artwork aspects associated attributes audience Catalogue Catalogue of Shapes century Chapter characteristics characters Classical colour combination comparative complex components composition conceptual constructed contemporary context create creative cultural depictions described draws early echoes elements epics established example existing expression extends figure formal formulaic function Greek heroes historical Homeric Homeric epics Homeric poetry human iconography idea Iliad incorporates individual interpretation largely material means method narrative naturalism Nestor notes notion objects occurs Odysseus oral original painted pattern perception performance period Picasso poems poet poetic portrait premised produced refers reflect relation relationship representation represents result sculptural assemblage sculpture serves significant similar simile South specific structure Studies style suggests symbolic theory traditional transformation translation understanding University Press various viewer visual