The art object I was assigned was titled Ouranos, and it was made by William Tucker. This is an extremely interesting sculpture, and has a very important argument that it is trying to make. I think this becomes blatantly obvious when is looked through a rhetorical lens. When you take into consideration the rhetorical terms of logos, context, and pathos, the main argument of this art object becomes apparent. That argument is that concept of imperfection is more real, and should be more accepted, then perfection.
Ouranos was an ancient Greek god, and in this particular adaptation of the god he is depicted as a boot planted in the ground. It is also believed that the sculpture is also a torso, or an acrobat. The interesting aspect to all of the perceptions is the message of imperfection that the sculpture itself emits. The sculpture is abstract and is deformed which is very interesting considering it is of a Greek god. In most history, and throughout Greek sculpture, the concept of a god idolized. This means that the god was supposed to look perfect. They would sculpt them to have perfectly symmetrical faces, and features that no real human would ever have. The fact that William Tucker decides not to do this enforces his argument of imperfection.
The texture of this object is different from most of the art objects I have viewed in my time. When you look up close the object looks like it is melting, or as if it was a sculpture made out of rock. This is interesting when you compare it back to some of the Greek’s adaptations of gods. The Greek god’s where most of the time made to look very smooth. The melting and rough texture of Ouranos would have most likely been looked down upon by the general public in Greek times. This is an excellent way that William tucker gets his argument across. He takes the concepts that were used so long ago, and throws them out the window. He does the exact opposite of what a Greek artist would have done. He wants you to look at the imperfection. He takes something has highly regarded as a god, and makes imperfect just like you and me.
The location of this sculpture fits perfectly with the argument about imperfection and perfection. First of all the sculpture is on a little bit of a hill. It is almost elevated higher up than any of the other sculptures that surround it. I believe this is because the sculpture wanted you view imperfection in a different light. It wants to exemplify it and make it ok. This also works with the atmosphere of a college setting. We have all this media attention, and pressure to make us think that we should look a certain way, or that you need to be perfect. This concept of a Greek god being imperfect makes you think the exact opposite. It lets you know that it is ok to be imperfect, and be your own person.
It is very interesting that the author would choose bronze material to make this sculpture. Bronze isn’t necessarily the flashiest of materials. It is kind of dull and isn’t exactly the material that screams look at me I am a god. This is used to help further the argument of imperfection being ok. The idea that you can use this material that isn’t flashy helps this argument that imperfection is more acceptable than perfection. The author puts in this material that he knows isn’t necessarily impressive, and it is ok and it is accepted by the art world.
These examples of imperfection bring up a lot of pathos and emotion. The first emotion I feel when I look and think of this concept of imperfection is comfort. It makes feel ok and good about me. I have like so many others succumbed to the media at times and get down on myself. This concept that it is ok to be imperfect and have my own flaws reminded me that what the media shows is near impossible. I also get comfort in the concept that a god can be human. That even someone who has extreme power can make mistakes, and that in fact they are not perfect. This can be related into our everyday lives, so that we can remind ourselves that even our superiors can have their own flaws and imperfections.
Another kind of pathos that comes up when one looks at this structure is excitement. It is exciting to thin k that someone who could hold so much power, and be so highly regarded, to have so many flaws about it. Many have described this statue to be elegant and flowing. It might not look that way to everyone but for the consensus to be that way adds excitement for us and our everyday lives. Excitement also comes up when you think about imperfection itself. In the fact that you can be yourself, and accept who you are.