Cultural and Religious Beliefs Play a Significant

Cultural and religious beliefs play a significant role in understanding works of art that are emblematic of a particular culture or religion. By understanding what these beliefs are, it is possible for viewers and outsiders to gain a better comprehension of both the form and meaning of a particular work. There are certain aspects of Jewish architecture, for example, which point towards the location where Solomon's Temple was erected. Without knowing such background information, those studying art would overlook many of the key symbolic interpretations of different pieces of art. The meaning of art is oftentimes rooted in its cultural and religious significance.

Without cultural and religious understanding of a civilization that produced a piece of art, the viewer can simply make a series of assumptions. Most of those assumptions are based on importance. For instance, in artwork in which there is more than one figure represented, the viewer can assume that the one that is the biggest has more importance than the one that is smaller. The same concept applies to the symbols and people featured in the foreground vs. The background, for instance. In addition to ascribing importance to facets of the art, viewers can assume their own interpretations of symbols applicable to their own society and culture.

c. Not knowing the story of the Taj Mahal, our perception of this work of art is shaped by its mere physical representation. As such, there are certain parts of it which are enormous and deserving of the viewer's attention for that fact alone. There are also parts of it that are beautiful and need no interpretation. However, knowing the story behind the erection of this edifice merely highlights its beauty and emphasizes a degree of poignancy that otherwise would not be understood. It is surprising to view this as a tomb (Ahmed, 2012).

Question 2

a. The Forbidden City served a variety of functions for the Ming dynasty and for other Chinese emperors during the time it was erected (Hubert, 2009). It functioned as the capital city of the Ming Dynasty for most of the tenure of this particular dynasty. However, it has primarily come to be known as the residential quarters for the royal families of those dynasties. There are certain quarters within it specifically designed for the king to reside, for the queen to reside, and even a common area which the aforementioned royal personages could share. As such, it was an imperial palace that was befitting of the rulers of the country.

b. There are a couple of different ways in which the social hierarchies of the Ming dynasty are reflected in the design of the Forbidden City. One o the most eminent is the fact that the palace is segmented into two different parts -- the outer court and the inner court. The outer court was for various ceremonies, some of which were for religious or cultural purposes. Thus, the general public (which could occasional view a ceremony) and religious people represented the lower social stratification, while the upper stratification (the inner court) was reserved for political figures and attendants of the royal family.