22nd Sept 2012; Art Documentary :- Art of Persuasion- How Art made The World - Episode 3

Contemplate and Konangal  present

Documentary on Art

 The Art of Persuasion

(BBC How Art Made the World –Episode 3)

22nd Sept 2012; 5.45pm

Runtime 55 minutes

Contemplate Art Gallery

Avanashi Road , Opp PSG Krishnammal College, Coimbatore

The Art of Persuasion - The power of images

A lively and provocative investigation into the far-reaching influence of art on society

The leaders of most modern countries exploit a powerful political tool - the power of images. These techniques, in fact, were invented thousands of years ago by the leaders of the Ancient World. But how do politicians actually use images to persuade us - often without us even knowing? How did they do it thousands of years ago?

An ancient gravesite near Stonehenge revealed an important man buried with beautifully crafted gold ornaments - probably the only such gold objects in Britain at the time. This gold, so impossibly rare, would have dazzled the locals, creating the image of a leader. So clearly it was learned early on in human history that art as personal adornment enhanced your status.

In other parts of the ancient world, however, many leaders had vast empires with many disparate conquered people to rule, and possessing fine jewelry was not enough to get their kingly message across. Darius the Great, King of the Persians, came up with the first art political logo, with Alexander the Great later expanding on the concept by imprinting his face on coins that flooded his empire. 

Augustus of Rome, forty years before Christ, fabricated the first political lie by creating a series of statute portraits that made him appear to be a man of the people, while ruthlessly exterminating the competition. Modern politicians use techniques similar to those invented by rulers of old, but instead of paint and marble, they use digital technology. But whatever the final form, people remain as vulnerable now as ever to the persuasive power of art. Modern politicians use political techniques invented by rulers of old, but instead of paint and marble, they use digital technology.