RENAISSANCE
By: Matthew Judyn
Jacob Lechowicz
WHAT IS RENAISSANCE?
The revival of European art and literature under the
influence of classical models in the 14th -16th centuries.
The culture and style of art and architecture.
from French, renaissance: re- 'back, again' + naissance
'birth‘. Which means being re-born.
ORIGINS OF RENAISSANCE
Renaissance began in Florence, Italy in the 14th century.
The period from the end of the 15th century has become
known as the High Renaissance, when Venice and Rome began to
share Florence’s importance. This is when Raphael, Leonardo da
Vinci, and Michelangelo were active.
Renaissance thinking spread to the rest of Europe from the early
16th century, and was influential for the next hundred years
IMPORTANT FIGURES
OF THE RENAISSANCE
ERA
Raphael
Sistine Madonna
Leonardo da Vinci
Mona Lisa
Michelangelo
The Creation of Adam
RENAISSANCE
PHILOSOPHY
During the Renaissance, many of the ancient Greek
texts were translated and the awareness gradually grew
of the variety of methodologies in antiquity.
Methodology became a hot topic, as Renaissance
thinkers fought to make sense of their great
predecessors.
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM
 Social philosophy and intellectual and literary currents during
renaissance.
 Return to pagan behaviours stimulated the philosophy of secularism, the
appreciation of worldly pleasures, and above all intensified the assertion of
personal independence and individual expression.
 During the renaissance, people were fascinated with the human mind,
and explored its capabilities. It was exhibited most with art and literature.
RENAISSANCE HUMANISTS:
Nicollo Machiavelli - writer based in Florence during the
Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern
political science.
Baldassare Castiglione - renaissance author that defines
the ideal court and courtier, going into great detail about the
philosophical and cultured and lively conversations.
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM:
HAMLET
 The play gives the Renaissance a very human perspective. Since the play is set
in Denmark, and the author is English, the ideology is not only Italian, but could
also be considered European.
 The tragedy of the play and the ghost are things that help make this a
Renaissance play as Shakespeare was a playwright of the Renaissance.
 Renaissance was a period of witchcraft, supernatural events, wars, expansion
of science and art as well as power struggles.
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM:
HAMLET
 The Encyclopedia Dictionary defines a Renaissance man or woman
as one "whose intellectual interests and achievements are wideranging; especially, one whose talents encompass both the arts
and the sciences."
 Hamlet has received education, which is seen by the way he acts and
reacts towards events in the play. By using various literary devices
throughout the play, Hamlet shows that he has read the books of
classical authors and has learned how to use them in his life.
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM:
HAMLET
In II.ii Hamlet states, “What a piece of work is a
man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty, in
form and moving how express and admirable, in action
how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god - the
beauty of the world, the paragon of animals!”
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM:
HAMLET
In IV.iv he asks “What is man, If his chief good and market of
his time Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more. Sure, he that
made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave
us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unused.
Now, whether it be Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple Of
thinking too precisely on the event - ... - I do not know Why yet I
live to say this thing’s to do.”
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM:
HAMLET
 Hamlet indicates a very human problem and a very real consideration
for the humanists.
 He has to apply the education he has received. When he tries to do
this he applies the Renaissance quality of prudence, which is the reason
Hamlet is often accused for thinking too hard.
 In III.ii, Hamlet respects Horatio for his ability to move through life
applying cool “judgement” rather than passion.
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM:
HAMLET
Hamlet can be seen as having been a perfect
Castiglionian courtier. He demonstrates qualities
which Machiavelli advised for princes.
Ophelia says Hamlet is “A noble mind” and
that he has a “noble and most sovereign reason”
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM:
HAMLET
 In his attitude to death and the purposes of life before it, Hamlet reflects the
ideology of renaissance society. He begins the play rather disillusioned with life
because death is inevitable. In the course of the famous soliloquy, “To be, or not to
be ...” he complains that the possibilities of life are not fulfilled because of fear of
death (III.i.78-88).
 In Act V he starts to embrace a broader Renaissance view of death. He is then
able to move beyond fear and horror of it to the renaissance vision that life, more
than just a preparation for death, was also a period of value.
Modern Principles
Renaissance Principles
- Focuses on education.
- Focuses on humanism.
- Turned away from the church.
- Turning away from the dominant
ideals put forth by the church.
- Advanced recognition of human
potential and scientific inquiry .
- Beginning of the recognition of
human potential and scientific inquiry .
- Conspiracy theories, portraying
information differently than it is.
- Principles of realism , as appeared in
terms of art and literature.
- Represents realism in concept art
- Represent realism in human figure.
- Searching for the human spirit.
- Show the true human spirit.
- Established division between
philosophy and religion.
- Set forth a clear division between
philosophy and religion.
Main Idea
- Renaissance gave the beginning to the modern era, current school
of thought.
- The importance of education was greatly emphasized during the
renaissance era and has been exercised for the past few centuries.
- The Renaissance principles are similar to modern values, both
separate religion from philosophy, and are concerned with the
search for the human spirit.
- However, nowadays a lot of knowledge is not available to the
public as much of it is hidden from the civilians by the authorities.
Yet during renaissance the peasants were exposed to the truth
rather easily.
- During the renaissance religion began to loose its authority and
its continuing to loose its power presently.
Ideal man in our society according to
women
-
-
He will be a brilliant conversationalist.
He will be sensitive, kind, understanding and loving.
He will be a very hard working man.
He will help around the house by washing dishes, vacuuming the floors and
taking care of the garden.
He will be a man of emotional and physical strength.
He will be as smart as Einstein but look like Harrison Ford.
A man carries cash.
A man looks out for those around him.
A man can cook eggs.
A man can always find something good to watch on television.
A man makes things.
He passes along expertise, one man to the next. Know-how survives him.
This is immortality.
A man can speak to dogs.
A man fantasizes that kung Fu lives deep inside him somewhere.
Ideal man in our society cont’d
- He is thrilled by the snatch, by the wrist, the sight of a bare shoulder.
- He likes the crease of a bent knee. When his woman bends to pick up her
underwear, he feels that thrum that only a man can feel.
- A man doesn't point out that he did the dishes.
- A man looks out for children. Makes them stand behind him.
- A man knows how to bust balls.
- A man has had liquor enough in his life that he can order a drink without
sounding breathless, clueless, or obtuse. When he doesn't want to think, he
orders bourbon or something on tap.
- Never the sauvignon blanc.
- A man welcomes the coming of age. It frees him. It allows him to assume the
upper hand and teaches him when to step aside.
- Maybe he never has, and maybe he never will, but a man figures he can
knock someone, somewhere, on his ass.
- He does not rely on rationalizations or explanations.
Ideal man in our society cont’d - 2
- He doesn't winnow, winnow, winnow until truths can be humbly
categorized, or intellectualized, until behaviour can be written off with an
explanation.
- He doesn't see himself lost in some great maw of humanity, some grand
sweep. That's the liberal thread; it's why men won't line up as liberals.
- A man gets the door. Without thinking.
- He stops traffic when he must.
- A man resists formulations, questions belief, embraces ambiguity without
making a fetish out of it. A man revisits his beliefs. Continually. That's why
men won't forever line up with conservatives, either.
- A man knows his tools and how to use them — just the ones he needs.
Knows which saw is for what, how to find the stud, when to use galvanized
nails.
- A miter saw, incidentally, is the kind that sits on a table, has a circular blade,
and is used for cutting at precise angles. Very satisfying saw.
Ideal man in our society cont’d - 3
- A man knows how to sneak a look at cleavage and doesn't care if he gets
busted once in a while.
- A man is good at his job. Not his work, not his avocation, not his hobby. Not
his career. His job. It doesn't matter what his job is, because if a man doesn't
like his job, he gets a new one.
- A man can look you up and down and figure some things out. Before you say
a word, he makes you. From your suitcase, from your watch, from your
posture.
- A man infers.
- A man owns up. That's why Mark McGwire is not a man.
- A man grasps his mistakes.
- He lays claim to who he is, and what he was.
- Some mistakes, though, he lets pass if no one notices. Like dropping the
steak in the dirt.
- A man loves the human body, the revelation of nakedness. He loves the
sight of the pale breast, the physics of the human skeleton, the alternating
current of the flesh.
Ideal man in our society cont’d - 4
- A man knows how to lose an afternoon. Drinking, playing Grand Theft Auto,
driving aimlessly, shooting pool.
- He knows how to lose a month, also.
- A man listens, and that's how he argues. He crafts opinions. He can pound
the table, take the floor. It's not that he must. It's that he can.
- A man is comfortable being alone. Loves being alone, actually. He sleeps.
- Or he stands watch. He interrupts trouble. This is the state policeman. This is
the poet. Men, both of them.
- A man loves driving alone most of all.
- Style — a man has that. No matter how eccentric that style is, it is
uncontrived. It's a set of rules.
- He understands the basic mechanics of the planet. Or he can close one eye,
look up at the sun, and tell you what time of day it is. Or where north is.
- He can tell you where you might find something to eat or where the fish run.
He understands electricity or the internal-combustion engine, the mechanics
of flight or how to figure a pitcher's ERA.
Ideal man in our society cont’d - 5
- A man does not know everything. He doesn't try. He likes what other men
know.
- A man can tell you he was wrong. That he did wrong. That he planned to. He
can tell you when he is lost. He can apologize, even if sometimes it's just to
put an end to the bickering.
- A man does not wither at the thought of dancing. But it is generally to be
avoided.
- A man watches. Sometimes he goes and sits at an auction knowing he won't
spend a dime, witnessing the temptation and the maneuvering of others.
Sometimes he stands on the street corner watching stuff. This is not about
quietude so much as collection. It is not about meditation so much as
considering. A man refracts his vision and gains acuity. This serves him in
every way. No one taught him this — to be quiet, to cipher, to watch. In this
way, in these moments, the man is like a zoo animal: both captive and free.
You cannot take your eyes off a man when he is like that. You shouldn't. The
hell if you know what he is thinking, who he is, or what he will do next.
In Conclusion
- According to the fair sex, the ideal man is a combination
of Jesus Christ, Chuck Norris, MacGyver , Cristiano
Ronaldo, Eddie Murphy, Bear Grills, Barack Obama, Bill
Gates and Superman. He has the precision of a Swiss
watch, the lack of will of a robot, intellect of Albert
Einstein and the expressionism of emotion of a child on a
Christmas morning.
- However, no one in this universe pertains these qualities.
Which means that the previous 5 slide were irrelevant to
our presentation. No ideals exist in this world.
The Renaissance Man
“The renaissance strove toward the ideal of perfect
proportion in its static form…It’s ideal type of man was
described by Baldassare Castiglione as being of noble birth,
versed in bodily exercise, of a refined education including art,
music and literature, combining dignity with spontaneity and
grace in manners, and being little concerned with religion.
The renaissance also exalted the clever politician, the mighty
genius and the great scholar….it was considered a matter of
course that an educated person should possess an excellent
knowledge of Latin and Greek and their literatures as well as of
the modern classics in their national languages.”
The 21st Century Man
The modern man is the man living in the 21st century. He is
usually computer savvy. He is well educated and intelligent.
The modern man has values and morals, he is a honourable,
courageous and an adventurous person. The 21st century man
is confident, artistic and romantic.
He is a successful person that is living a comfortable life with
very few problems. He has a house and a makes a lot of money.
The modern man is considerate, he can be a gentleman at one
time and a bad boy the other.
Hamlet
Hamlet would not make a good 21st century man due to the
fact that he has not been introduced to the computers or
other technologies of the 21st century. He is not accustomed
to the 21st century English as well as the other practices of the
modern era.
However he is well educated and intelligent. He is respectful
and wants to revenge his father death. He has values and morals
and is a honourable man. He is also living a comfortable life as a
prince of Denmark. Hamlet is viewed as a gentleman until he
learns that his father was murdered by his uncle, that’s when he
becomes mad.
Summary
Define the term Renaissance.
The revival of European art and literature under the influence of
classical models in the 14th -16th centuries. It means re-birth.
Present the play, Hamlet as a reflection of Renaissance thought and
as a depiction of Renaissance philosophy.
The play gives the Renaissance a very human perspective. Since the
play is set in Denmark, and the author is English, the ideology is not
only Italian, but could also be considered European. The tragedy of
the play and the supernatural events are things that help make this a
Renaissance play .
Summary
Are mode modern values today similar to those of renaissance ?
Renaissance gave the beginning to the modern era, current school of
thought. The importance of education was greatly emphasized
during the renaissance era and has been exercised for the past few
centuries. The Renaissance principles are similar to modern values,
both separate religion from philosophy, and are concerned with the
search for the human spirit.
How is Hamlet an ideal example of a renaissance man ?
He is an ideal example of a renaissance man because his character
matches the renaissance man description of being of noble birth,
versed in bodily exercise, of a refined education including art, music
and literature, combining dignity with spontaneity and grace in
manners, and being little concerned with religion.
Summary
Compare Hamlet with the description of the ideal man of our society.
Hamlet is well educated and intelligent. He is respectful and wants
to revenge his father death. He has values and morals and is a
honourable man. He is also living a comfortable life as a prince of
Denmark. Hamlet is viewed as a gentleman until he learns that his
father was murdered by his uncle, that’s when he becomes mad.
Would Hamlet fit into our society ?
Hamlet would not make a good 21st century man due to the fact
that he has not been introduced to the computers or other
technologies of the 21st century. He is not accustomed to the 21st
century English as well as the other practices of the modern era.
Works cited:
- "Renaissance." Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Web. 3 Nov.
2011.
- Beaney, Michael, "Analysis", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
(Summer 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), Web.
- Kreis, Steven. "Renaissance Humanism." The History Guide -- Main. Web.
03 Nov. 2011
- "Hamlet - Renaissance Man." The Greenspun Family Server. Web. 03 Nov.
2011.
- "The Influence of the Renaissance on Modern American Society Culture
AndArt." Welcome to ArticleMyriad.com! Web. 03 Nov. 2011.
- Chiarella, Tom. "How to Be a Man - Characteristics of the Ideal Man Esquire." Beautiful Women, Men's Fashion, Best Music, Drink Recipes Esquire. Web. 03 Nov. 2011.
- Ellenberger, H. The Discovery of the Unconscious: The History and
Evolution of Dynamic Psychiatry, London, Penguin Press, 1970, p. 194
Works cited:
Pictures:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Raffael_051.jpg
- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Sanzio_00.j
pg/220px-Sanzio_00.jpg
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leonardo_self.jpg
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_fro
m_C2RMF_retouched.jpg
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelo-Buonarroti1.jpg
- http://www.atlandbiz.com/UploadFiles/20101029080518293.jpg