Music and creativity in Ancient Greece - Tim Hansen

You think you love music? You have nothing on the Ancient Greek obsession. Every aspect of Greek life was punctuated by song: history, poetry, theater, sports and even astronomy. In fact, music was so important to Greek philosopher Plato that he claimed the music we listen to directly affects our ethics. Tim Hansen wonders what Plato might have to say about the music we listen to today.

Lesson by Tim Hansen, animation by TOGETHER.

[notaras]

when foreign travelers went to ancient greece as some ancient sources say, they heard people "singing rather than talking". thats how flowish, and musical the ancient greek language was.

[ShawnRavenfire]

The word "muse" is also the origin of the words "bemused, " "amusement" and "museum."  (Just thought I'd point that out.)

[Acquavallo]

I really liked that Rock & Roll Minotaur!

[palestblue]

Ancient Greeks: The original hipsters.

[MM-lrhv]

1.Excess of anything is bad .
2. One’s master piece can be rejected by others .
3. Every art has its undeniable effect .
4. A person has his brain to make a decision to take good or bad .

[Nirmal-ijlg]

Absolutely! The act of listening to music has been known to have a profound impact on the human psyche, sparking creativity and imagination within one's soul. The soothing melodies and harmonies can transport one to a different realm, unlocking hidden emotions and inspiring new ideas. Music has been a driving force behind some of the greatest works of art and innovation throughout history. So, turn up the volume, and let the music take you on a journey of discovery!

[fineartist]

Excellent intro into the ethos in the music of the ancient Greeks!
Articulate text with imaginative animated illustrations. 
Please create more on other subjects. I have begun presenting them to my studio art students here in Chelsea, New York City.

[jbz]

We need a school house rock reboot. Ancient greek style.

[da]

Thanks for all the modes and muses, Ancient Greece. Much appreciated :)

[adamthornton]

How much reliable information do we have about what actual Classical Greek music sounded like?

[flowmotion_]

There’s a lot we can learn from Ancient Greece

[ShawnRavenfire]

Actually, looking at string theory, it looks like the ancient Greeks were right about musical harmony affecting the workings of the universe.

[DanFromMerdo]

Funny thing is the planets DO make noises as they move. We just can't hear it without equipment

[augustocamargo]

Very interesting, but today I see we all can understand this differently: it's not the music that influenciate us, but the way we feel that drag us into a certain musical style. A musical taste could be represented as a version of one's reality interpretation of the world. So, liking certain styles of music means you are already that way, you already feel like that, and that's because you like it, because it represent's you. It's like, it's the music that is lined up with your "soul", not you getting influenced by it. Or maybe you get influenced a little bit, but this happens because of one's curiosity of absorbing that specific information contained in that.

I think the same goes to games, the so called "violent game that influence people to violence", actually the people are already that way, and the game is just a representation of how they feel...

[SevenMilliFrog]

Plato may disagree on my mostly electronic music playlist. But I do have some Mozart and Beethoven on my iPod.

[martinlopez-reinaalcantara]

Vaya pasada de video, mi más sincera enhorabuena, aprendí muchísimo, gracias

[logosloki]

How right they were that everything in the universe has a sound of it's own.

Agree with Michael, it is too much focus on western culture. I think before the Greek era, in Mezopotamia, egypt, India, china, the music had been evolved first

[IceQueen]

Hmm... I think Plato would be confused since 1) my music is a mixture of languages 2) a mixture of genera and 3) a mixture of humans singing and computer programs singing. XD

[youthbrain]

i love all of these intelligent comments! much better than the shallow comments i've encountered in youtube.