Art as a Culture

1)
A: The cave artists were trying to show what I feel is a physical-spiritual encyclopedia of the animals they encountered in their habitat. The way certain animals are depicted, and the recurring themes, imply some kind of spiritual or physical importance. Also, the depiction of carnivores as hidden or elusive is another theme of these artists. Carnivores and drawn into pre-existing drawings, or in hidden places, to show their own hunting prowess and deadly stealth.
B: I believe the proportion of animals to humans in these drawings is reflective of their environment and culture. Nature was the overwhelming force in their day-to-days lives, with only small groups of humans living together in bands. It was more likely to encounter a plethora of animals on a daily basis than a human from another group. Animals, generally speaking, are more than humans in the sense of their own physical abilities. It makes sense, from an early human standpoint, when nature still ruled and minimal adaptation of the environment was occurring, that humans would be in awe of their animal contemporaries and wish to take or control their abilities somehow through art.
C: The paintings show that the people in this region, and Paleolithic people at large, came into contact with a wide variety of animals and had a working knowledge of their animal neighbors. The depiction of carnivores as especially predatory also shows the peoples' fear and reverence of these beasts. These animals were seen as real threats to their livelihood and these images could also have served as educational tools, teaching the new generation to be wary and watch out for these carnivorous predators.
D: The most obvious physical boundary these people had to overcome was the geography of the area. The general area where these caves are located is surrounded by steep cliffs, which makes reaching the caves both tricky and a challenge. Next, it took the people time and effort to discover how to actually create these paintings. After devising materials and methods to create these paintings, the people had to engineer ways to paint above their heads, especially when it came to the ceiling paintings. Painting in the dark would prove to be especially difficult, so the people also had to safely manage fire in these closed areas, which provided another challenge to these early human artists.
E: I believe that three possible functions of this early art could have been: serving as an encyclopedia of animal knowledge (education), attempting to control these animals and nature through the paintings and some sort of mysticism (religion), and the passing down of oral histories or knowledge with the paintings serving as visual aids (tradition).
2) I believe the general use of art is as an expression of a people's culture and values. For the Paleolithic Lascaux, their culture could have been highly influenced by nature and their values may have been reinforced by their local animals. The bull could have been a symbol for bravery or strength. The problem with art, however, is that it is an exclusive form of expression. If you aren't part of the in-group, the art is merely aesthetic, the underlying meanings aren't easily comprehended. In modern art, there is a similar disconnect. Da Vinci's The Last Supper, as illustrated in the text book, has meanings that only an insider can readily grasp, while the overall aesthetic can be appreciated by almost anyone. Art is expressive, but only within your group. The values, beliefs, and culture is out in the open for all to see, but only the people who are a part of the group can actually understand what is in front of them.
3) My favorite art form is music, specifically alternative rock. Within this genre of music, my favorite group is Brand New, hailing from Long Island, New York. One song by them that I feel depicts their overall "sound" is Jesus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_iNdbPvrYk&feature=relmfu) from their album "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me."
A: In the large scheme of music, those people who create alternative rock are seeking a method of personal expression outside of the classical rock and roll mold. Listeners to this kind of music are often attracted by the harmonies, vocal intonations, and lyrics. In this genre of music, you can find a wide variety of groups and artists, each catering to different tastes and needs. Generally, alternative rock musicians are trying to externalize internal feelings through their music, as do all musicians. These musicians also attempt to voice feelings their fans may possibly have as well, but haven't found the words to describe their feelings. In particular, Brand New, through their song "Jesus," communicate doubts, apprehension, and pressure that arise from daily life. They are trying to make it okay to verbalize these feelings and try to make the listener understand that they are a natural part of being human.
B: Because of the "alternative" label associated to this genre of the art form that is music, it is hard to define things. The label is broad as are the musicians and the audience who listen to them. There is no simple method of dress for musicians or fans, or language, or behaviors. The alternativen-ness of the music, groups, and people allow for different people to become synthesized into one group for the sake of the music, yet they still retain their own individual identities.
C: The inclusiveness of this art form brings people together, rather than drives them apart. The major issue with society at large is the musicians' irreverence in regard to challenging social issues of the status quo. They dare to bring controversial issues to light because they aren't afraid of causing conflict over their music.