FRAGMENT + FORTIFY FRIDAY: THE DARK CRYSTAL + PREHISTORIC STONE AGE ART ANSWERS

4/17/2020

TGIF Wildcats! Today I have a special treat for you. I am not sure how familiar you are with Jim Henson and the film The Dark Crystal… but it’s a favorite from my childhood. I grew up on many of his characters and the fantastical worlds he constructed. In order to celebrate the 38th anniversary of The Dark Crystal and my upcoming birthday (both us masterpieces birthed in 1982) I thought this would be an opportune time to usher you into the world of Henson’s imagination and encourage to flex your own creativity. Also, towards the end of this post I have included the ANSWERS to the Prehistoric Stone Age Art Questions so I am not accepting that assignment any longer. You all have some interesting, insightful and comical responses to the open ended questions and I have included them below for you all to check out what each other had to say!

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND

James Maury Henson, September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990 - born in Greenville, Mississippi, and raised in Leland, Mississippi, and University Park, Maryland.

Henson was an American puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, filmmaker, and screenwriter who achieved worldwide notice as the creator of The Muppets (1955–present) and Fraggle Rock (1983–1987); and as the director of The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986).

You can stream rent/buy all of his films through various digital platforms and on DVD...
I suggest that you do immediately if not sooner!

Jim Henson, an extraordinary artist and visionary, invented unique worlds and characters that remain just as vivid, original and fresh today as when they were created. A television pioneer, an innovator in puppetry, technology and visual arts, and a performer who literally brought to life some of the most memorable characters ever-including the world's most famous frog, Kermit™ - Jim Henson's impact on entertainment, education and culture continues to this day.

THE MAGIC OF JIM HENSON

Henson began developing puppets in high school. He created Sam and Friends, a short-form comedy television program, while he was a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in home economics, after which he produced coffee advertisements and developed experimental films. In 1958, he co-founded Muppets, Inc., which became The Jim Henson Company.

In 1969, Henson joined the children's educational television program Sesame Street where he helped to develop characters for the series. He and his creative team also appeared on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. He produced The Muppet Show during this period, premiering the series in 1976. He won fame for his characters, particularly Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, and Ernie. During the later years of his life, he founded the Jim Henson Foundation and Jim Henson's Creature Shop. He won the Emmy Award twice for his involvement in The Storyteller and The Jim Henson Hour.

On May 16, 1990, Henson died in New York City at the age of 53. His ashes were scattered near Taos, New Mexico. In the weeks following his death, he was celebrated with a wave of tributes. He was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991 and was selected to be one of the Disney Legends in 2011.

THE DARK CRYSTAL PLOT

Master Muppeteers Jim Henson and Frank Oz co-direct this classic fantasy film that tells the mythical tale of Jen, the last of the Gelfling race, who is charged with healing the Crystal of Truth after its mutilation ushered in an era of terror at the hands of the wicked Skeksis.

A millennium ago on the planet Thra, two new races appeared when a shard was shattered from the Crystal of Truth: the malevolent Skeksis whose continued corruption of the Crystal to extend their lives ravaged Thra, and the gentle urRu, more commonly known as the Mystics, who made their home in the Valley of Stones to await for their destiny. The leader of the urRu, the Master UrSu, raised a young Gelfling named Jen whose clan were slaughtered by the Skeksis. As the Great Conjunction of Thra's three suns draws near, a dying UrSu instructs Jen to fulfill a prophecy to heal the Crystal by first retrieving the Shard from Aughra. Jen must find a missing shard in the observatory of an ancient astronomer before the Skesis are given the power to rule for all eternity.

Henson's inspiration for the visual aspects of the film came around 1975–76, after he saw an illustration by Leonard B. Lubin in a 1975 edition of Lewis Carroll’s poetry showing crocodiles living in a palace and wearing elaborate robes and jewelry. The film's conceptual roots lay in Henson's short-lived The Land of Gorch, which also took place in an alien world with no human characters. According to co-director Frank Oz, Henson's intention was to "get back to the darkness of the original Grimms' Fairy Tales", as he believed that it was unhealthy for children to never be afraid.

THE DARK CRYSTAL TRAILER 1982

JIM HENSON’S THE DARK CRYSTAL WORLD OF MYTH AND MAGIC SPECIAL EXHIBIT

Immerse yourself in the imaginative world of Thra, featured in the movie The Dark Crystal (1982). This special exhibition discusses how the movie was a passion project for Jim Henson and how he needed the fantastical work of Brian Froud to make it come to fruition.

https://puppet.org/programs/jim-hensons-the-dark-crystal-world-of-myth-and-magic-special-exhibit/

Due to COVD-19 the Center for Puppetry Arts will be closed until further notice. In the meantime, we're going digital. Click here to connect to their FREE and paid digital program offerings and video tour of the exhibit below from some fellow fans.

THE DARK CRYSTAL & LABYRINTH EXHIBITS
THE CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS

WIRE BUZZ: NETFLIX DEBUTS VIBRANT DARK CRYSTAL ART

>>>> GREAT ARTICLE - Inside the Epic Return:
https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/exclusive-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-inside-return-to-thra

>>>> ON NETFLIX The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance and The Crystal Calls Making of the Dark Crystal Age of Resistance.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is an American fantasy web television series produced by Netflix and The Jim Henson Company. It is a prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal that explores the world of Thra created for the original film.

If you don't own a DVD copy of the original The Dark Crystal like I do you can rent/ buy (possibly view for free) on Amazon, Fandango, Vudu, Redbox, YouTube, Google Play, iTunes, and Microsoft. Basically, if you want to watch this cult classic, it’s super accessible online.

GO FURTHER + DIG DEEPER
If you want more Jim Henson below is an hour long documentary!

James Maury Henson was an American puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, filmmaker, and screenwriter who achieved worldwide notice as the creator of The Muppets and Fraggle Rock; and as the director of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

Well Wildcat Artists we made it through another week (round of applause) excellent work!
Don't forget you have deadlines!

POSTS + ASSIGNMENTS SO FAR:
4/6 Monday Art Mission: Still Life Self Portrait
4/8 Wednesday Watch: Prehistoric Stone Age Art
4/10 Fragment + Fortify Friday: Norman Rockwell
4/13 Monday Art Mission: Color Theory w/ Color Wheel Still Life or Color Wheel Collage
4/15 Wednesday Watch: Medieval Illuminations
4/17 Fragment + Fortify Friday: The Dark Crystal

Enjoy the weekend - I hope we have some nice weather so we can all get outside.

Missing you all. Stay safe + take care of yourselves. Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or if you are in need of help of any kind [email protected]

Warm Regards,

Nicole Webster Clark

ANSWERS to Prehistoric Stone Age Art Questions:

Please make sure to read through the entire post and watch all videos recommended – I was able to tell from some of your answers that did not watch all the suggested clips.

1. The two major art forms during this early Paleolithic Period can be classified into:
1- stationary art
2- portable art

2. Give one example of stationary art (not moving).
`1- cave paintings

3. Give two examples of portable art (able to be easily carried).
1- small figurines
   2- clay pots/bowls

4. What were some common themes (subjects) in prehistoric art?
1- hunting and nature
   2- fertility and prosperity

5. Why did prehistoric people create art? What were they expressing?
1- desire for natural abundance
   2- protection of dangers of the wilderness

6. The small human and animal figurines are to have what suggested purpose? (used before a hunt) (short answer)
Rituals to gain control and good luck in the hunt.

7. What is a Venus figurine? (short answer)
Pregnant woman

8. What types of animals can be found in cave paintings?

Animals that were hunted:
1- bear
   2- bison
   3- deer
   4- horses
     5 - mammoths

Animals revered for their strength:
   6- lions + wildcats
   7- rhinos

9. What activities or techniques suggest that the cave paintings were used for hunting rituals? (short answer)
Arrows drawn or shot at walls.

10. What are three types or techniques (line work) that are used in cave painting?
1- human hand silhouettes
   2- scratch marks = tectiforms
   3- dots = stippling

11. What two types of perspectives are used in cave drawings/paintings?
1- two dimensional = profile or frontal view
   2- composite = blending perspectives

12. What is NOT included in cave drawings/paintings?
1- landscapes

13. How was paint applied? There are three techniques described.
1- using hands
   2- animal hair brushes
   3- hollowed out bones

14. What are the two most common colors used in cave drawings/paintings?
1- red
   2- black
     3 – sometimes white and green depending on location

15. Who made the cave art? (short answer)
Men and women of all ages as well as shamans

16. How many caves have archaeologists discovered throughout Europe that have drawings and paintings in them? (short answer)
More than 400

17. What did the prehistoric artists use to make their medium?
Remember a medium refers to the materials that are used to create a work of art. (short answer)
Mixing minerals, animal bone and charcoal as well as other natural elements such as water, animal fat, and even blood.

18. What are some of the ancient mediums prehistoric artists used that you have used in modern day art class? (short answer)
Paint/pigments and charcoal.

19. What time period begins towards the end of the Stone Age?
   1- Neolithic Period / Bronze Age

20. What does repeated (repetition=pattern) symbols suggest in cave art?
   1- Agreed upon meanings
   2- Early form of graphic communication

21. What changed for artists during the Neolithic period? What did they do that was new/different? (short answer)
Painted pottery, sculptures and plaster buildings

22. Neolithic people built the first permanent architectural structures – what did that include?
   1- houses
   2- temples
   3- towers
   4- monuments
   5- tombs

23. Have you built anything yourself? If so, please describe. What would you like to build? (short answer)

Bird house in woodshop
Pottery
I have built many different things out of clay most of them for projects, but I have made some things for me and family members such as mugs, the head of jack the skeleton king and ashtrays.
I have not built anything
I have never truly built anything myself aside from creating ceramic materials in art class, but as a kid I had always wanted to build my own tree house and maybe one day I’ll build one for my own children. But I think maybe I could just draw out a blueprint for it and hire someone else to actual do it.
I have built so many things in my life, I can’t even remember each thing. I’ve been building since I was a small child. Whether it be from my father’s carpentry scraps, forts in the house, to huge sapling tipis in the woods. My cousins always called me the builder because I could build anything if I put my mind to it. Ever since then I’ve built things, I sort of have a knack for it. I’ve built many things around the house for my mom too, the chicken coop, composter, chairs, couches, everything.
I built a bookshelf by myself and 3D models.
In woodshop in 8th grade my friends and I made different types of weapons like spears and swords. To be honest I really don’t know what to build but hopefully someday something significant.
No, I have not built anything myself. I would like to build a shiplap beachy sign out of wood I distress to match the ones others have made in my room. Like you made the woods then paint and write on it with wooden letters.
No, I have not built anything. I would like to build a birdhouse.
I built a mini castle in ceramic class, also some types of plates, a table, and a highchair. I’d like to build a doghouse
I helped build a stone fireplace, and a new underground path so when it rains water does not flood the house. I would like to help build my own house
I have built shelves, tables, and pens in woodshop class. I would like to build a treehouse or a cool basement one day.
If I could build anything, I would build a treehouse. I think that treehouses are very cool, and I like climbing trees.
I built a toolbox in woodshop. I had to construct all of the pieces almost like a puzzle. Next, I would like to build a kind of cabin for my backyard.
I have made a clay planter pot, several pinch pots, a coffee mug, and building
I started to build a tree fort with my family, but we never finished it. I have helped my mom build tv stands and bookshelves.
Probably the best thing I have ever built was a massive snow bunker during the winter when we got a ton of snow you could even stand up in it
If woodshop counts, then, yes, I’ve built a birdhouse, a stool and a small storage box; otherwise, if that doesn’t count, then no.
I helped build a treehouse. If I were to build any large structure I would want to build a bridge.
Have built dog houses

24. What is the most famous Stone Age structure and how as it built?
1- Stonehenge
2- Post and beam

25. How do you think the stones were transported/moved? (short answer)

Probably wagons, very sturdy wagons with lots of horses
Probably by some sort of machinery they built out of wood and other natural elements.
A group of strong people came together to move them
By bison pulling them with ropes tied around them.
To be honest probably some out of this world help was involved. I can't truly imagine early humans being able to do this alone.
I have no clue, but I imagine that considering how smart these people had to have been that they had some type of pulley and claw system to help them lift these massive stones
I think it either was many men, hundreds of people like in Egypt. Maybe they used rope pulleys or leather ones with many people. Maybe some pretty strong devotion.
Log rollers under stone
I think maybe they put something underneath the stone in order to roll them over and then they might have used a system of ropes and pulleys to put them upright. Or maybe they literally used man strength and worked as a team to carry them over
I think many slaves or workers were forced to lift these rocks.
They might have had a whole bunch of them roll the rocks.
The men stones horizonal on horses and the men surrounding the horse holding on the stone and leading the horse to the building sight.
I guess they will just have to push because no animals were domestic to help
With man cave strength and big pulling carts.
I think it was by hand
I think that due to the harsher lives people lead they were stronger. So, they could have somehow moved the stones as a group??? (my dad says aliens!)
Camels or some old animal that had the things on its back
Maybe by a mule. They could have attached ropes around them and had a bull or mule pull them even a horse maybe
I think they were transported by animals or humans dragging them.
They were probably out in rollers from the location that they were found and then I have no idea how they got it up there
Depends on the inventions and what they had at the time of it being built. Perhaps they carried them by hand with several people carrying it?
I think It was probably a large amount of people using some kind of tool to drag it across the ground.

26. What do you think the purpose of Stonehenge is? Why was it built? (short answer)

I think it was used as a clock for the sun or something of the sort
It may have been used a meeting or celebration site
For Religious meeting places for worship.
I think they were built for rituals. They were built by stacking the rocks.
I believe it was for the purpose of rituals and going of my previous answer maybe it was a docking station for a spacecraft.
I think its purpose was to be a spiritual structure for people to be with peace and nature as they prayed to whatever god they believed in, or perhaps it was just an art piece people could admire and appreciate. And those places are still always good for connecting with your spirituality. The video describes it as a meeting or celebration site or an astronomical calendar which I think would be really cool!
I think it definitely corresponds with the seasons and time. Definitely devoted to spirituality and connectivity with nature. I think they built it because it was important to them.
Religious practices. Solar Calendar. Probably used together
I think that it was used as a place of celebration or maybe at one time it was a town center where everyone met up to sell and buy things
In my opinion they probably used this as a clock or a calendar.
It may have been used as a meeting or celebration site.
I think the purpose of the Stonehenge is a meeting site. The structure is able to be seen from far away and allows people to go to one place and meet up. I think it was built so different colonies of people in the area can have a place to hash out their differences such as fights about hunting each other's game or where they gather natural items. A place to settle disputes when everyone lived far apart and almost always just doing their own thing.
I’ll say it's more for rituals because it was a big space to connect with people, nature and the god they believed in
The purpose of Stonehenge is to act as a beacon to people in SPACE!
I think it was built as a big meeting or celebration site.
I personally believe based on how Stonehenge is constructed that it was used for some form of ritual/celebration of something to do with space. Perhaps something could be seen in the sky from within the circle of rocks they made. I think it was built so they knew where to go to see my hypothetical phenomenon
I think it was some type of clock
Maybe a place to have gatherings or specially celebrations.
I think the purpose of Stonehenge was a place where they gathered for important meetings or celebrations.
I think that it was built as some sort of calendar for them
An astronomical purpose, or to tell the position of the sun. It was probably built as a calendar.
I think it was used for some astronomical purpose.
An astronomical calendar

27. How can you tell the art was important to Stone Age people? (short answer)
Their passion and time invested

28. What is the legacy of the Stone Age time period?
1- art
   2- language
   3- agriculture
   4- government
   5- the worlds fist civilization in Mesopotamia

29. Would you like to have lived during the Paleolithic Stone Age? Why or why not? (short answer)

I’d be interested in living the life of a painter who works on cave art
I think yes and no because it's really cool how they used natural things found in nature to create these cave drawings and I love clay and I think it would be cool to make my own and then make pots out of it but, ! would not like using blood and animal fat for paint.
No because I would definitely not live as long and it is not as safe aa today.
No, only because I don't think I would be able to survive.
I would have to pass on that offer. It was a ruthless and dangerous time. My immune system is already weak and I’m very very clumsy so throwing me into that time period, probably wouldn’t have lasted long anyways. I would fall off a rock or something like that trying to reach fruit off a tree.
No, I would not have wanted to live in the Paleolithic Stone Age because even though it is the root of many worldwide developments, I would have been driven mad. It is obvious to say that I like our modern world’s technology and indoor plumbing of course but back then there was no history. They were the history and I am too interested in history to be making it. I love to learn about things like where and how art and design were born, and I like to know where I have come from and what makes me who I am today. If I had lived back, then I would have no clue where my true roots were and not having a book in my hand everyday sounds awful!
I would have been all over that art. I love art and color. I would have been painting everything, plants, animals, and people. Especially all the people around me, people are important. Stories last forever. I would have carved things too, maybe symbols, deities, and people. I probably would have made some killer jewelry too.
NO. Too primitive, hard work and dangerous.
I don't think I would have liked to live in this time because first of all I probably would have died young, and second, some of the cave art on the walls show really strange and scary animals and weapons. I also don't think I would want to live in a cave, although I do like that they were so in touch with nature.
I would absolutely pass on living in the Stone Age. This is because after getting used to all this tech around me, I would probably be bored out of my mind and have to work very hard since most inventions weren’t invented yet that I would need.
No, I wouldn’t want to live during the Paleolithic Stone Age because I would probably end up dying.
I would not have liked to live during the Paleolithic Stone Age. I wouldn't because they did not know anything about science, a topic I enjoy a lot.
Yes and no, because I’d have met so many animals that I’ve never seen before and also get the vibe of the cave paintings, but not because I wouldn't like to kill them to survive
No because life would be awful and the chances of surviving past 40 are slim. + no indoor plumbing.
I think it would’ve been cool to experience some things during the Paleolithic Stone Age, but I would prefer to live in our present times because it seems more safe and there is more technology to connect with people and more opportunity than back then.
I would not have liked to have lived during the paleolithic stone age. I enjoy my creature comforts that I have far too much. I also don’t like being outside or very active.
No, I would not like to because it seems like a lot of work.
Both yes and no. I feel it would be cool to work by hand for everything and not rely on technology but then again it was probably hard to live in those times.
I do not think I would like to have lived during the Paleolithic Stone Age knowing all the things that are offered to me today. I am not sure I would, could or want to live in a different time period.
I would not have liked to live back then because people barely survive disasters now in our strong houses, they were just kinda there in caves hoping they wouldn’t die or the cave to collapse on them.
No, I would be lost without access to the wide variety of paint colors we have today
No; even if art was a thing people were passionate about, there’s still a lot of risks involving medicine, hunting, and other things they didn’t know very well back then.
I would have liked to experience it but I don’t know about living there just because i do like nature and stuff and I like that part of it, but I don’t thin its worth losing all aspects of today.

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