Write About Four Case Studies of the Impact on Global Migration on Contemporary Art
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Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Four Case Studies of the Impact of Global Migration on Contemporary Art
Contemporary art has been greatly influenced by global migration, as artists from different parts of the world have traveled, migrated, and relocated, bringing with them diverse ideas, styles, and techniques. This phenomenon has had a significant impact on the evolution of contemporary art practices worldwide. In this essay, we will explore four case studies that exemplify the ways in which global migration has shaped contemporary art.
1. Ibrahim El-Salahi: Reborn Sounds of Childhood Dreams
Ibrahim El-Salahi, a Sudanese artist, attended art school in London and later took part in the international Mbari workshop in Ibadan, Nigeria. His work reflects Sudan’s position as a site of cultural crossroads. One of his notable works is “Reborn Sounds of Childhood Dreams,” an enamel, oil, and cotton piece displayed at the Tate London. El-Salahi’s art demonstrates the influence of his travels and experiences, blending European training with diverse cultural histories from his home country.
2. Ruth Asawa: Untitled
Ruth Asawa was an American artist known for her wire sculptures. She studied at Black Mountain College, an experimental art school in North Carolina. Black Mountain became a hub for displaced migrant artists, many of whom fled Nazi persecution and totalitarian regimes during World War II. Asawa’s work, including her sculpture “Untitled,” demonstrates the influence of her studies at Black Mountain and her exposure to diverse artistic practices.
Ruth Asawa Untitled
3. Jacob Lawrence: The Migration Series
Jacob Lawrence was an African American artist who carefully documented the migration of African Americans from the agricultural South to the industrial North in his series of paintings called “The Migration Series.” In 1946, Lawrence taught at the Summer Art Institute at Black Mountain College. His work reflects the experiences and struggles of African Americans during this historic period of migration.
4. Seydou Keïta: Untitled [Seated Woman Chevron Print Dress]
Seydou Keïta was a Malian photographer who captured the everyday lives of people living in Bamako, Mali. His photographs resisted the imposition of Western culture and French colonization while creatively fusing outside styles and ideas with African identities. Keïta’s photograph “Untitled [Seated Woman Chevron Print Dress]” exemplifies his ability to blend local and global influences in his work.
Seydou Keïta Untitled
These four case studies highlight the impact of global migration on contemporary art. Artists like Ibrahim El-Salahi, Ruth Asawa, Jacob Lawrence, and Seydou Keïta have enriched the art world by bringing their diverse experiences, styles, and techniques from different parts of the world. Their works challenge traditional art historical narratives and demonstrate the importance of itinerancy and migration in shaping contemporary artistic practices.
In conclusion, global migration has played a significant role in contemporary art. Artists who have journeyed from one place to another have brought with them diverse ideas, visual forms, and cultural influences. The case studies discussed in this essay exemplify how global migration has shaped contemporary art practices, challenging established narratives and enriching the art world with new perspectives and expressions.
