Practical Paideia

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy)

Incorporating Aristotle’s Five Common Topics into a lesson on gazing

Painting: Flood Panel on the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo

Step 1: Provide students with a brief bio of Michelangelo as well as a brief summary of the painting itself. 

Bio: Michelangelo was an italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet. He was born in Florence in 1475 and died in 1564. His work had a major influence on western art. Michelangelo is one of the best documented artists of the 16th century. His is best-known for his David sculpture as well as his painting of the ceiling of the Sistine chapel.

About the Painting: In the center of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo painted nine panels, with each one showing a scene from Genesis. The nine panels are organized into three groups and each group forms a part of the Bible story. The third group focuses on Noah: his thanksgiving, the flood itself, and then Noah’s drunkenness. We will focus on the second one. All nine panels are believed to point to people’s need for a covenant with God. 

Step 2: Ask students the following five questions, each of which focus on one of the five common topics. Be intentional about telling them beforehand that this is what I’m doing and that we can use Aristotle’s topics in this way as well as in our essays. In general, they provide us with a chance to generate ideas and discussion. Give them a chance to answer, but use the bullet points to help stimulate ideas if there is a lull in the discussion.

Question 1: (Definition) – “How would you define what is happening in the painting?

• There are people on the ark, in a boat and on land. 

Question 2: (Comparison) – “How would you compare and contrast this painting of the flood with images we usually encounter of Noah and the Ark today.?”

• The focus on those images is often of the animals. In this photo there are no animals, only people. There is also a heavy focus in modern images of the ark itself while in this image the ark is secondary to the people. 

Question 3: (Circumstance) – “What is going on both on the ark and off the ark?”

• There is one woman in the boat with a club attacking another man…but besides that there are people helping one another, carrying one another, outstretched arms offering to help etc. We can also assume those helping one another are not related but strangers (this assumption is based on the clash of colors of the individuals)
• Noah is in the window looking towards heaven. We know that is where he sent out the dove so we could make the connection that he is asking God when this suffering will end?

Question 4: (Relationship) – “Based on scripture, what led to there being two groups of people in this photo (those on the ark and those not on the ark?”

• Genesis 6:5 tells us that “the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually” (how does this connect with what we see in the painting?) 

Question 5: (Testimony) – “Roberto Salvii, an Italian art historian says that this painting depicts suffering more than it does punishment.” Would you agree?

• I think I could see both. I see there is clear suffering and punishment is not as prominent an emotion displayed. I do think the focus is more that suffering exists in this story and it’s not a happy story.

Final Question (pull in some application into this one with the goal being to transform their thinking): “How did your view of the flood and what Noah must have been feeling transform after viewing this painting compared to a modern warm and cuddly image of the ark?” (Pull up an example of this kind of image which is so prevalent today)

• In most modern images, Noah is happy to be safe, everyone is smiling and his family is grateful. The animals are also happy and in general Noah has succeeded because he’s saved the animals and he can enjoy the boat ride until it’s time to get off. The focus is on the ark itself and the animals with minimal focus on the people left behind.
• In this painting, we realize the anguish Noah must have felt. The people on the shore were probably people he knew. He could see from his window that they were suffering and were trying to help one another…think how hard that must have been to close the door on people looking for help?”