Why read Greek Vase-Painting and the Origins of Visual Humour?

Book cover of Greek Vase-Painting and the Origins of Visual Humour

Book description

This book is a comprehensive study of visual humour in ancient Greece, with special emphasis on works created in Athens and Boeotia. Alexandre G. Mitchell brings an interdisciplinary approach to this topic, combining theories and methods of art history, archaeology and classics with the anthropology of humour, and thereby establishing…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Greek Vase-Painting and the Origins of Visual Humour as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

William Hansen

Author

The ancient Greeks were not only good at making serious art such as epics and tragedies, they were also good at making fun of them in literature and art.

In the realm of art, the most abundant source of humor is painted vases, which were manufactured mostly for the use of men at symposia, or drinking parties.

Greek mythology was a favorite subject of the vase painters, and Mitchell’s richly-illustrated study of humorous vases provides a fun and unusual window into ancient burlesque treatments of Greek myths and legends.

From William's list on classical mythology and folklore.