What was Propganda Like In Ancient Rome?
The cultural values of ancient Rome would in general, be focused on status, strength and wisdom. This was especially true for those in power such as the Senate and the many Emperors during their times. These values can be seen in the powerful Roman ruler Trebonianus Gallus, his full name being Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus. He died in 253, near Interamna, Latium - which would be modern day Teramo, Italy. He was a Roman Emperor from 251 to 253 though his family lineage can be traced back to Perusia (modern Perugia) and a pre-Roman Etruscan aristocracy. In 251–253 AD he commissioned a sculpture of himself that was one of the few completed bronze sculptures made in Rome, however the artist is unknown. Prevalent Roman values of the time are expressed in this particular sculpture, as Emperor Trebonianus Gallus is depicted in a rather traditional Greek manner, that is in reference to him being presented nude, however, there are also Roman attributes evident as his body is shown to be that of a middle aged man in his prime. His figure, as expected of an older man, has less of the agility of a younger male, thus symbolizing the wisdom he would possess given his age. Another area of interest is in the pose; he most likely at one point would have been holding a sword in his left hand and a spear in his right hand (the uplifted hand), which would have been representative of his strength as a military leader. However, this sculpture has undergone many alterations and restorations over the years, for example, the cloth draped over his shoulder is a modern addition.
Was "Mao" Propaganda Or Just Pop Art?
In Warhol’s silkscreen print, “Mao” Warhol reimaged a well known photo portait of the Chinese communist leader, Chairman Mao, or Mao Zedong. The reason behind the creation of this image was initially, that Warhol was very interested in President Richard Nixion's visit to China, after such a long period of isolation between the two nations. The thing that most inspired Warhol was the popularity that formed around the cult of Chairman Mao and that a single man could have so much power and control over a vast nation of people. A largely contributing factor of this control was that Chairman Mao’s picture was everywhere, that's all that people ever saw. However, given the later years of the Chairman’s regime ending after the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Warhol recaptured the essence of that dominance in his style of repeated images on silkscreen in different colors. The impact of Mao’s image was two-fold: it became iconic as a readily recognizable figure, but also presenting the influence of the values he stood for, which are still prevalent in some places around the world. Some would look at Mao’s portrait with favor as being a solid communist, others, like most Americans, or those who suffered under Mao’s regime, would look at it as rather less than favorable.
How Do Both Political Figures Compare?
How do Warhol’s “Mao” and the sculpture of Trebonianus Gallus compare? The subjects themselves are extremely powerful, political and military leaders in their respective times and regimes. Though they are dedicated a bit differently, as Trebonianus Gallus is depicted in a full sculpture and nude, as the popular representation at the time was that the man himself was powerful, not the adornment. Chairman Mao's depiction was of a bust with a slight smile making him appear perhaps more personable, compared to a ruthless leader such as Trebonianus Gallus. In both images the men's ages are shown accurately, as older men with receding hairlines and body types. Simarily, age in both cultures was believed to represent wisdom and experience, compared to that of the younger generation.
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Bibliography
"Mao by Andy Warhol: Buy." MyArtBroker. 13 Oct. 2020. Web. 20 Mar. 2021. <https://www.myartbroker.com/artist/andy-warhol/mao/>.
"Metmuseum.org." Metmuseum.org. Web. 20 Mar. 2021. <https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/247117>.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Gallus". Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Jan. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gallus-Roman-emperor. Accessed 19 March 2021.