Alternatives [Unit Summary]

The alternatives unit holds the basic idea of taking what has already been done (the foundations) and pushing

 limits that many did not know existed.  Through this unit Blackmore and Roth ventured through styles from

 gothic and renaissance to French Baroque. In all of this styles we see how selected artists decided to take what

 was already made and make it even stretched these ideas to bigger limits.

Death and illness overwhelmed the growing populations during the dark ages leading thousands to turn to some sort of salvation and the construction of cathedrals throughout Europe.  Designers and architects kept in mind their foundations (commodity, firmness and delight) and built from there.  These designs became more complex and exaggerated to emulate a “heaven on earth” and were of gothic and Romanesque styles. An example of these overwhelming structures is the Duomo cathedral in Florence Italy.  It’s height is a connection to the reaching for the heavens and it’s large dome shape and use of different textures and materials make it stand out from the rest of the city.  In France, the Abbey church shows us an example of a sanctuary, an escape from every day life. It focus on geometry also has a close connection with bringing order into the world due to all of the mass chaos at the time. 

 As we move out of the dark ages we venture into the renaissance or the “revival” as most call it.  This was definitely the time of improvement and advance...