Kapileo 1

Arianna B. Kapileo

Instructor Susan Harmon

Introduction to Art

14 November 2021

Midterm Paper Part 2

Describe why and how art and artists have been considered to have exceptional power in some

cultures.

- Art is not always easy. It amazes me when I come across pieces of art that look

impossible to have been made. It doesn’t come to a surprise that artists are considered to

have exceptional power in some cultures. It takes real, genuine creativity and thought

when an artist is creating a piece of art. Artists have been considered to have exceptional

power in some cultures because not everyone is able to do what they do. They are able to

create images and objects from nature. The images and objects they create are able to

communicate something. They are meant to represent something and people are able to

see and understand, which makes it seem like some sort of magic. It enables others to feel

the world around them. Images created by artists are able to enhance the power of an

individual, system of government, or even form a religion. People are able to make a

better understanding of things when they can see it right in front of them. Throughout

history, artists that give them that better understanding made others feel that the certain

artist is special and withhold mysterious powers. It is the fact that an artist can create

images or objects that mimic life and beauty is what gives them exceptional power in

some cultures.
 Kapileo 2

Explain why images of defeated rulers, dead rulers, or monuments of occupied culture might be

defaced or destroyed.

- A man named Chun Doo Hwan was a Korean soldier and politician who was president of

South Korea from 1980 to 1988. A statue of him was found with two-thirds of its neck

damaged. The ex-president was known to have abused his power. He was charged for the

acceptance of bribes during his terms as president. He was charged for his role in the

Gwangju Massacre. Gwangju was seen as the lead of the democracy movement in South

Korea in the year 1980 and at least 207 people or more were killed by army forces, who

were trying to suppress a pro-democracy demonstration. Innocent lives were taken and

Chun Doo Hwan was not forgiven by many. He was sentenced to death, but was

pardoned and instead sentenced to life imprisonment. Because many have not forgiven

him, another statue was made of him. This statue was made to shame the ex-president. It

is a statue which portrays him imprisoned and kneeling, with his arms and neck

restrained. The people passing hammer his head or humiliate the statue in some type of

way. Some use their shoes and some simply use their hands to slap the statue. This man

has, in truth, lost the respect of his people.