Classical Sculpture and The Changing Perception of Value Three Case Studies

Abstract

How the public perceives works shapes their value. This aspect of value has shaped how classical works are portrayed and how particular works are treated. Some objects obtain a value far beyond the value they had upon their creation. Understanding how certain works have attained their status in popular culture and academia allows for a better understanding of the classics and their relationship to public discourse. We can examine this relationship by using the case studies of three classical works: The Venus De Milo, Laocoön and His Sons, and The Winged Victory of Samothrace. The Venus De Milo’s rise from humble origins, to its current place in popular media, as an icon of feminine beauty showcases how value is assigned to an object. Laocoön’s transformation from an aesthetic piece upon its creation to an inspiration for many Renaissance and Baroque artists, back to an aesthetic work showcases the fluctuation of value. Finally, The Winged Victory of Samothrace exhibits how in attaining new value, critical parts of an object’s history may be lost or forgotten, giving the object a new meaning removed from its original context and history. These three statues are symbols of the classical field, and through analyzing their place in public discourse, we can understand how the classical field relates to popular media.