The Role of Storytelling in the Visual Arts

The Abduction of Europa

When gazing down upon Europa’s face,
Great Zeus was willed with love and lust. To lure
the maiden to him, he transformed — no chase
Was needed — to a bull on whom she’d pour
Her heart. She grabbed him by his hefty horn
And climbed on him and rode him to the sea,
The salty waves now splashing thighs now borne
To rocky Crete to bear for Zeus a three
From whom a king would rise to birth the West,
From jumping bulls to labyrinths and man-
Mad minotaur, King Minos would be blessed,
For that’s when civilization began
In Greece and all the West that got its name
From beautiful Europa’s bull-borne flame.

Literacy and Art

Once upon a time, the majority of humanity was illiterate. Yet, it was important to pass on the cultural stories. You had your storytellers, true, but people are very visual creatures. It’s part of our primate heritage. So it shouldn’t be surprising that humans often told their stories visually, whether on ancient vases, sculptures, or paintings.

Catholic churches are full of images for exactly that reason. Statues and paintings told the stories of the stations…