THERE IS LIFE UNDERNEATH THE ASHES: POMPEII AND ITS APPROPRIATION
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Dată
2024Autor
Buță, Irina Valeria
Abstract
My dissertation topic There is life underneath the ashes: Pompeii and its appropriation is the
result of my personal curiosity and a daring challenge. I set off bearing in mind that I had to
see Pompeii as an art(istic) form, and despite the fact that my aim was not altered, I did
remain astonished that the whole world is still stirred and touched by the continuous findings
during the excavations.
Through its unearthing and exposure, Pompeii advanced from a city that faced its
destruction to a setting encoded with meaning, with life - or rather the absence of it, a genuine
embodiment of human suffering. It became a fascination for artists, captivating everyone as a
gap in time taking one back into the ancient world.
The site of Pompeii and its artefacts are filled with hidden layers of significance, and that
is why it is repeatedly seen as a moment frozen in time. It is displayed to the public through
exhibits and artworks, that through constant adaptations, transformations of our own
experiences.
Whether conveyed through works of art, literature or films, our perception of Pompeii
displays a connection between historical truth(s) and its appropriation.