Stephen D. Houston on Vital Signs: The Visual Cultures of Maya Writing, Part 2

The Maya provide strong evidence for who made texts and images, and by what means. Decipherments identify calligraphers and carvers; close study of paintings and sculptures illustrates principles of design and shows how these concepts were put into practice. The result: a virtuosic blend of individual choices and ideas held in common, expressed in breathtaking works that reveal the intent of their makers.
This is the second talk of the six-part series “Vital Signs: The Visual Cultures of Maya Writing,” presented by Stephen D. Houston of Brown University for the 72nd A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts.
Part 1: ruclips.net/user/liveFn7i3DanIeE
Part 2: ruclips.net/user/liveV-HX6lnJJ5Y
Part 3: ruclips.net/user/liveugbzybYT2ck
Part 4: • Stephen D. Houston on ...
Part 5: ruclips.net/user/live2zixZZ2ehz0
Part 6: ruclips.net/user/liveXOO8m_g31pE
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[@evelynramos445]

Thank you, need to catch up w lecture and look forward to again.

[@kandiwolfe1125]

That's crazy scary!! Wow!! 💜💙💜💙💜

[@rachellerivera1304]

If you've read Miguel Leon Portilla's work Aztec Thought and Culture you might extrapolate some potential similarities with regards to these artists. Obviously we are talking about two seperate cultures, and comparisons are often a slippary slope. But it is by no means a stretch to hypothesize that the Maya may have conceptualized their scribes in a manner akin to the tlamatini Portilla describes since these distinct cultures do share so many similarities. The Tlamatini or "wise men" or "he of the red and black ink" felt that their duty was to illuminate truths for the people, intellectual thought cuts through to the truth. So there's our ads referrence. Additionally birds, especially hummingbirds, are symbologies associated with thought because they share the realm of air. So it is possible these artists are declaring with pride their role in society by their signature; which may even be more of a title than what their mother might have called them.

[@jeff__w]

6:42 “…no exact provenience…”
_Provenience_ refers to the “findspot” of an artifact, most often, the _in situ_ location at the time of archaeological discovery.
_Provenance,_ in contrast, refers to the entire “chain of custody” from the artifact’s place of origin (or location of discovery) and its current location (e.g., a museum or a private collection).

[@NationalGalleryofArtTalks]

Make sure to watch them all.
Part 1: ruclips.net/user/liveFn7i3DanIeE
Part 2: ruclips.net/user/liveV-HX6lnJJ5Y
Part 3: ruclips.net/user/liveugbzybYT2ck
Part 4: ruclips.net/video/DS29gFnxdww/видео.html
Part 5: ruclips.net/user/live2zixZZ2ehz0
Part 6: ruclips.net/user/liveXOO8m_g31pE

[@TedPope]

CC missed word between "overrefined" and "society" at approximately 38:40. Please edit and add term. (Do you need someone dedicated enough to transcribe lectures and not leave out words?)

[@NationalGalleryofArtTalks]

Hello! Thank you for your comment. We have reviewed the CC for this video and they are now updated.