Nietzsche’s Apollonian And Dionysian Impulses

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Nietzsche’s Apollonian and Dionysian impulses October 19, 2009 GS602 – OL5: The Art & Ideology of the 20th Century Apollonian and Dionysian impulses The artwork that was chosen entitled “Thumbprint” relates to both Nietzsche’s ideas of Apollonian and Dionysian impulses. The concept behind a thumbprint is that it represents your identity. I am fascinated by the idea that although someone like a twin might share DNA, a fingerprint with its identifying ridge configuration, can only belong to one person. When my daughter and I first moved into our house I wanted to paint something that represented us. Although other people have lived in the house prior, as a designer I wanted to create a look that represented our style and our identity. The thumbprint painting represents that. Originally I had come up with the idea of creating a print pattern based off a series of words that relates to me and my daughter. I also wanted the look of the thumbprint to be more literal. However I knew that would take too much time and settled on a more relaxed pattern. I feel the painting has similarities to both an Apollonian way of thinking as well as a Dionysian approach. Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, is symbolized for his civilizing process. He represents mind, order, and reason. The painting represents an Apollonian approach because even though a thumbprint pattern looks chaotic, the lines are precise and organized in its thought. The color story is also controlled, using neutral colors of grays, browns and blacks. An observer might even say that the flower in the center uses Apollonian impulses because it grounds and controls the intricate pattern of the circular lines. In opposition, the painting has Dionysian influences because when you stand back the lines might seem chaotic. Dionysus, the god of wine, symbolized unrestrained excess. When my

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