Reading Greek Vases
Reading Greek Vases by Ann Steiner, published by Cambridge University Press on December 15, 2008, is an illustrated volume comprising 364 pages. This book presents a comprehensive study of the aesthetic principles of repetition and symmetry in ancient Athenian vases, exploring their significance beyond mere decoration. Steiner delves into how these elements function as a code that conveys meaning to viewers, drawing on theoretical frameworks from information theory and narratology.
Readers will find an in-depth analysis of how repetition in imagery and painted verbal inscriptions contributes to narration and the exploration of various perspectives. The book illustrates how these artistic choices reflect the activities of the elite symposion and the cultural values of elite Athenians. By offering a new approach to interpreting ancient Athenian vases, Steiner enhances our understanding of their historical and artistic context, making this work a valuable resource for those interested in art history and ancient cultures.
Official synopsis Publisher
Repetition and symmetry are the fundamental aesthetic principles underlying the shape and decoration of ancient Athenian vases. This book is the first comprehensive study of the role of repetition beyond its aesthetic value, and as part of a code that conveys meaning to the viewer. Relying on the theoretical background provided through information theory and narratology, Ann Steiner uncovers the different kinds of meaning that painters created through the use of repetition. Using the reading of painted verbal inscriptions as a springboard, she demonstrates how repetition of imagery in multiple fields of a vase can create narration, paradigm, exploration of perceptual and ideological point of view, and parody. Steiner shows how the results of repetition on Archaic Athenian vases reiterate the activities of the elite symposion and the broader cultural values of the elite Athenians. She provides an entirely new way to read ancient Athenian vases.
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