Wednesday, April 28, 1965 University Daily Kansan
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Lecturer Challenges Baroque Art Theory
Dr. Irving Lavin, associate professor of Art History at New York University, exploded a common misconception which people hold about Baroque art last night during the last Humanities lecture of 1965.
Dr. Lavin's lecture was entitled "Bernini and Antiquity: The Baroque Paradox." He described the works of Gianlorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), an Italian sculptor and architect of the Baroque Period. Slides of Bernini's work illustrated the lecture.
Lavin began his lecture by explaining a generalization people use when speaking of Baroque art. People tend to believe Baroque art must deviate from the normal classical forms. Lavin said that this generalization is not necessarily true. To illustrate his point he showed slides of French paintings of the Baroque period which did not deviate from the accepted norms of prior times.
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Bernini is often thought of as being classical in architecture and Baroque in sculpture. Lavin disagreed with this view and, to prove his point, he showed slides of two statues by Bernini—one classical in form and the other in Baroque form.
LAVIN SAID. "He advises the young student to copy the masterpieces of antiquity first, even before nature."
Lavin said Bernini's concern was to present one emotional situation in his sculpture. "He super-imposed a quotation from some classical archetype," Lavin said. There was a passionate rediscovery of classicism in Bernini.
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The visiting lecturer discussed the influence of music, drama, and the opera of the early 17th century
1.
People to People Names Officers Appoints Board
The new officers and board members for next year's KU People-to-Pope organization were announced this week by the organization.
on the art of Bernini. The Jesuit order of the Catholic Church fostered a theatre arts program for educational and cultural reasons. The Jesuits had a great influence on Bernini, Lavin said.
The officers are as follows: David Waxse, Oswego sophomore, chairman; Dale Sprague, McPhrerson sophomore, and Pragash F. Nagori, Indian sophomore, vice-chairmen; James C. Pitts, Wichita junior, treasurer, and Kent Andrews, Abilene sophomore, secretary.
THE BOARD MEMBERS are as follows: Melba K. Hutton, Mount Hope sophomore, special program chairman; Kenneth M. Nicoly, Mission sophomore, contact chairman (the former brother-sister program for American and foreign students); Patricia Cowen, Junction City sophomore, hospitality chairman; Bruce Warren, Emporia sophomore, publicity chairman; Nancy Einsel, Wilmore sophomore, membership chairman; Johnita Dallam, Shawnee Mission sophomore, All Student Council representative, and Richard Harp, Lawrence sophomore, chairman of the job placement committee.
The officers and board members were selected last weekend by applications and interviews given by the Kansas Union Controlling Board comprised of KU alumni. University administrators, SUA and ASC representatives. The senior members and the outgoing officers of P-t-P also helped in the interviews.
SOON a group began producing dramatic presentations for the purpose of recreating classical musical and dramatic styles. Lavin said the theater of the early Baroque period was a mixture of the Baroque innovations and the classical forms of antiquity. "The theatre in Rome in the early part of the seventeenth century was a leader in new forms of dramatic presentation," Lavin said.
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Bernini had a tremendous interest in the theatre. In fact, he wrote, produced, and acted in plays himself. He became recognized, Lavin said, as a master in producing stage effects. Bernini created scenes with sunsets, water and boats, fires, and many other awe-inspiring sights upon the Italian Baroque stage. Bernini's contemporaries considered his comedies to be equal to those of Terence and Plautus, ancient Roman playwrights.
Lavin said Bernini introduced Baroque theatricalism into his architecture. In the interior of his churches he created scenes as if they were set upon a stage.
At the Flamingo This Thursday
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"Bernini created a world apart," Lavin said.
British Socialism Talk Set for Tomorrow
"The Relevance of British Socialism" will be discussed by Aldon Bell, assistant professor of history, at the Kansas Union, 305 A and B, at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
The program is sponsored by the by American Socialist Norman Students for Democratic Society, Thomas. All interested students are which sponsored last week's speech invited to attend.
When You're In Doubt, Try It Out—Kansan Classifieds
FRIDAY
April 30
"CALIFORNIA SUN" million seller
TEE PEE DANCE ON THE COOL PATIO!
ADMISSION ONLY $1.00
SUA POETRY HOUR
Wednesday, April 28 4:00 p.m., Forum Room
Langston Hughes will read his own poetry
Thursday, April 29 4:30 p.m. Music Room, Kansas Union
Kenneth Rothwell
will read
Poetry and War: Homer to Shapiro