Week 3 Reflective Learning Journal

Introduction to Week 3

There wasn't much new stuff that I learned from week 2 to week 3, It was more of a continuation week where I applied the stuff that I learned into a discussion post and a reflection assignment. The discussion post was really fun as I learned a lot more about art and its symbolism.

Discussion Post

This was the first discussion post that we had had done, so I was extremely excited to write something especially interesting to try and intrigue my peers. The art piece that I had ended up choosing was the Blombos Cave painting from 75,000 years ago. It was really interesting learning about symbolism behind the rock, as without a closer look, it would look just like some random rock sitting around on the floor. The rock features some geometric patterns that challenge common beliefs back then. It was extremely abstract and unimaginative. According to Britannica Kids, before the Blombos discovery, historians thought that imaginative thinking in humans happened later, close to 30,000 years later. Furthermore, the Blombos Cave engravings not only push back the timeline for abstract thinking but also suggest that early humans were beginning to develop forms of communication that went beyond immediate survival needs. These intricate geometric patterns might have been used to convey ideas, mark identity, or even serve as a type of early writing system. It's also worth noting that these markings were made on ochre, a material that had symbolic value, often associated with rituals or spiritual practices.

Reflective Learning Journal

This weeks reflective journal was about whether or not people living in prehistoric time were primitive. 
I disagreed with that idea because although the technology that they had would be considered rudimentary, they were extremely rich in culture, religion, and art. Prehistoric humans also used music as a way to signal danger, communicate amongst each other, and also pass time. According the article Paleolithic Beginnings “Instruments such as flutes and conch shells,” were common among the artifacts found in ancient sites. Moreover, the creation of these tools, art, and music demonstrates a deep level of creativity, problem-solving, and social organization that contradicts the idea of "primitiveness." The symbolic and functional use of art and music shows that early humans had complex ways of understanding and interacting with their environment, far beyond mere survival. This adaptability and innovation are foundational to human progress, echoing the way we continue to evolve today. https://www.britannica.com/event/Paleolithic-Period

Reflection

This week, I deepened my understanding of how art and symbolism played a significant role in early human communication and culture. I found it fascinating that something as simple as the Blombos Cave painting could challenge our beliefs about abstract thinking in prehistoric times. Reflecting on the use of music and tools by early humans, I’ve come to appreciate their creativity and social organization, which set the foundation for human progress.


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