Authors Note
When I started the process of analyzing the art sculpture Ouranos, by William Tucker, I had a hard time getting started. When I first laid eyes on the sculpture I was worried. I thought it just looked like a big blob, and I was pretty sure it was going to be impossible to analyze and come up salient information about the sculpture. However, once I started to really look at the sculpture and give it some thought, ideas started to roll. It was crazy the type of ideas that where rolling onto the piece of paper. This process only increased after some research done on the actual structure itself. I learned that Ouranos was actually a god from ancient Greece. When this information was added to some of the ideas I had was able to come up with my argument that I was going to implement into my paper. I started to contemplate ideas of imperfection and perfection, and how a god could be depicted as imperfect.
In my first draft I talked a lot about the media. I touched on how the media played a big part in how we live our lives. More importantly how the media influences how we view ourselves and how we feel about ourselves. I think my first draft had a lot of good ideas that had to just be expanded upon. I thought that it was a good template for future drafts, but very raw and unpolished. I decided when I was going to write my final draft, that I would pretty much retype my paper, using the first draft to get my basic ideas.
First I scrapped the old intro, and decided that I would start my new intro with some context that I would carry on throughout the rest of the paper. I started with “In this day and age we are constantly reminded through media about our image and how to view ourselves.” This let the audience know where I was coming from and it made it easy to come back to that influence throughout the paper. I talked about The Classical period of art, and how old sculpture of gods and goddesses where depicted compared to the way that William Tucker depicted Ouranos. For example I stated, “The depictions of gods in that time period where always idealistic. They had over exaggerated muscles, and symmetrical faces. In this time this was the acceptable way to depict a god. This is the exact opposite style used in Ouranos.” This helped me expand on my argument, and gave salient information about the imperfection of the piece compared to the idealism of the Classical sculptures.
I also increased the length of my paper and ideas quite a bit. I cut out some of the ideas that where rough and expanded upon a few key ideas. For example I took out the bit about “Another kind of pathos that comes up when one looks at this structure is excitement.” And focused on the “This overall concept of imperfection, more specifically how it is more real than perfection and acceptable, brings up a great deal of pathos and emotion in the audience when viewing Ouranos. The most prevalent emotion would have to be that of comfort.” I also added some of the multimedia and hyperlinks that I was missing. Last but not least I made sure that I had my works cited included and cited my sources throughout the paper.
In this day and age we are constantly reminded through media about our image and how to view ourselves. All it takes is one look at the magazine rack to make us feel like we need to make some drastic changes. This idealism has been going on for as long as we can remember. It even dates back to the days of Greek gods and goddesses. When a god was depicted in the Greek culture nothing but perfection would be acceptable.(Kleiner) This is idea of perfection is extremely interesting when we take a look at the art sculpture I was assigned which is titled Ouranos. We see that the sculptor, William Tucker, took a total 180 on the idea of a Greek God. When we look through a rhetorical lens, and look at the concepts of ethos, logos, and pathos the argument of this sculpture becomes clear. That argument is that the concept of imperfection is more real, and should be more accepted, than perfection.Ouranos was an ancient Greek god. He was at one point and time the ruler of the entire universe.(Ouranos) In this particular sculpture Ouranos is depicted as a boot planted in the ground. It is also believed that the sculpture is a torso, or an acrobat.(New York Times) The interesting aspect to all of these adaptations is the imperfection of the sculpture itself. It is very abstract, and when I first
laid eyes on this sculpture I thought it was a big blob. This is a very interesting style when one considers how gods have been historically depicted through art. Specifically if we look back to the Classical period of art and juxtapose its sculptures to that of Ouranos, the contrasting styles become apparent. In the Classical art period art was become more progressive, people where becoming more lifelike, however one thing stayed the same, the depiction of the Greek god. The depictions of gods in that time period where always idealistic. They had over exaggerated muscles, and symmetrical faces. In this time this was the acceptable way to depict a god.(Kleiner)This is the exact opposite style used in Ouranos. First of all the God isn’t depicted as a whole, he just shown as a boot, or foot.(New York Times) This is very interesting because when we look at a foot, it isn’t necessarily the model of perfection. Feet can be worn and displeasing, and at times have calices and odor. This isn’t the first thought that comes to mind when we think of a god. This style is a clear argument of imperfection. We see this new style of a god, no longer is the god depicted as this perfect being. He is now flawed, and more realistic than the old sculptures of gods and goddesses.
William Tucker decided to make this piece out of bronze, and give a rough texture. (New York Times) One could almost say that the sculpture looks like it is melting. This is once again different than the Greek’s sculptures. They would use marble, and make sure that each face was very smooth and symmetrical. This rough and uneven texture would not have been used, or even acceptable in that time period.(Kleiner) William Tucker wants us to notice this imperfection right off the bat. The texture of this object is one of the more noticeable elements of the sculpture itself. He wants you to embrace this concept of imperfection, and accept it as a reality. The material made to make this sculpture is another key element aiding in this argument of imperfection. When we think of perfection, we think of gold or a very valuable substance. In our culture, bronze is always third best. If we look at the Olympics the first place winner is always awarded with the gold medal, third always gets the bronze medal. The first place person would be the one who is considered perfect, because their achievement cannot get any better, on the other had the third place would almost be a little bit of a disappointment, because they are not perfect, they still have a ways to go before that is achieved. I think that the sculptor did this to show us that it is ok to not be the best. That you can be imperfect and it is acceptable. He makes the argument that it is more realistic that you will not be the best, but it is still acceptable to be one of the greatest.This overall concept of imperfection, more specifically how it is more real than perfection and acceptable, brings up a great deal of pathos and emotion in the audience when viewing Ouranos. The most prevalent emotion would have to be that of comfort. Especially considering the day and age we currently 
live in. As I had mentioned before we only have to take one look at a magazine rack to instantly feel insecure, and negative about ourselves. This idea that we can be imperfect and we can be ourselves is very comforting in this media driven world. The media wants us to think that we have to dress a certain way, and act a certain way to be happy. Since the 1980’s males have been depicted as rawer, and more chiseled. There have even been studies done that showed when a teen-age girl views a commercial with a model in it, they become angry, and dissatisfied with their current weight, and body image.(Media's Effect on Girls) When we take a look at William Tucker’s sculpture we see what is usually the height of perfection, a god, depicted as imperfect and more real. This is comforting that we can think of someone who is generally so highly regarded to be flawed. It makes us take another look at our own flaws and imperfections. If something so powerful and great can have imperfections, maybe it is ok for us as humans to be imperfect too. The argument takes away some of the almost overwhelming standards, and lets you think of them in a different perspective. The sculptor is exalting imperfection, and throwing this idealistic mentality out the window.
Works Cited:
Kleinder, S., Fred. Gardener's Art through the Ages. United States: Wadsworth Cengae learning
"Media's Effect On Girls: Body Image and Gender Identity." National Institute on Media+The Family. . 2009. 14 December. 2009 <http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_mediaeffect.shtml>
"Ouranos" 1 Dec. 2009<http://library.thinkquest.org/17709/people/ouranos.htm>
Brenson, Michael. "ART WILLIAM TUCKER AND HIS GREEK TITANS." 1987. The New York Times. <http://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/02/arts/art-william-tucker-and-his-greek-titans.html>
"Eating Disorder Statistics." South Carolina Department of Mental Health.< http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/anorexia/statistics.htm>
