Comments on: Brain on the Sistine Chapel? http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 17:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666885 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666885 I remember a teacher telling us about the brain similarity in the early 90's. First publicly noted in 1990, according to Wikipedia. I remember a teacher telling us about the brain similarity in the early 90′s. First publicly noted in 1990, according to Wikipedia.

]]> By: Roach http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667653 Roach Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667653 Not only that, but Biagio-as-Minos has, instead of the tail which Minos uses to judge men, a snake wrapping around himself and biting him <i>right</i> in the place Biagio wanted to cover up (and actually, he did succeed in getting pants painted on the figures, but they have since been removed, save a few left as exemplars). I do love all the bitchy atheist comments though. What have you guys got to rival the Sistine chapel? Not only that, but Biagio-as-Minos has, instead of the tail which Minos uses to judge men, a snake wrapping around himself and biting him right in the place Biagio wanted to cover up (and actually, he did succeed in getting pants painted on the figures, but they have since been removed, save a few left as exemplars).

I do love all the bitchy atheist comments though. What have you guys got to rival the Sistine chapel?

]]> By: awwhoneybear http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-668681 awwhoneybear Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-668681 *like* *like*

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-671498 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671498 it looks to me like he is trying to get out... it looks to me like he is trying to get out…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-824857 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-824857 The pineal is located in the center of the brain, and is actually not anatomically part of the brain - in the fetus it forms from tissues that migrate from the roof of the mouth. It is therefore separated from the brain via the blood brain barrier - though it secretes chemicals that easily pass through it. Still, the pineal body is located kind of dead center in the brain. The idea that God's outstretched arm is supposed to represent an enormous pineal gland seems like more than a stretch to me; it seems extraordinarily unlikely. Plus, in Michaelangelo's time (and with his background) the pineal body/gland was not considered to be of any particular importance (unlike, as we know, outside of christianity). The pineal is located in the center of the brain, and is actually not anatomically part of the brain – in the fetus it forms from tissues that migrate from the roof of the mouth. It is therefore separated from the brain via the blood brain barrier – though it secretes chemicals that easily pass through it.

Still, the pineal body is located kind of dead center in the brain. The idea that God’s outstretched arm is supposed to represent an enormous pineal gland seems like more than a stretch to me; it seems extraordinarily unlikely. Plus, in Michaelangelo’s time (and with his background) the pineal body/gland was not considered to be of any particular importance (unlike, as we know, outside of christianity).

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-730653 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-730653 ok people if you look at the picture you see god sitting on people wraped around in a red cloth well the red cloth takes the shape of the brain and the cloth looks like the brain stem so it has to be a brain nothing else nothing more ok people if you look at the picture you see god sitting
on people wraped around in a red cloth well the red cloth takes the shape of the brain and the cloth looks like the brain stem so it has to be a brain nothing else nothing more

]]> By: namnezia http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667945 namnezia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667945 Roach: "I do love all the bitchy atheist comments though. What have you guys got to rival the Sistine chapel?" ...I'm not sure what you mean, I'd say atheists have, well, the Sistine chapel too! Roach: “I do love all the bitchy atheist comments though. What have you guys got to rival the Sistine chapel?”

…I’m not sure what you mean, I’d say atheists have, well, the Sistine chapel too!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667183 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667183 i said that to my art teacher 2 months ago and she basically told me i was an idiot ¬_¬ i said that to my art teacher 2 months ago and she basically told me i was an idiot ¬_¬

]]> By: RedShirt77 http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666932 RedShirt77 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666932 If it isn't a brain, what the heck is going on there? If it isn’t a brain, what the heck is going on there?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667189 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667189 it might also be a heart and judging by how religious he was i think it represents gods love for man kind it might also be a heart and judging by how religious he was i think it represents gods love for man kind

]]> By: swishypants http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667450 swishypants Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667450 Similarly, some people think that Botticelli painted a pair of lungs into his La Primavera - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Botticelli-primavera.jpg Similarly, some people think that Botticelli painted a pair of lungs into his La Primavera – http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Botticelli-primavera.jpg

]]> By: ruthmartin http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666940 ruthmartin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666940 Although Michelangelo is responsible for the design and execution of the Sistine Chapel, the mind-bogglingly complex intellectual scheme underpinning the entire room was developed by the Neopythagorean Renaissance philosopher, Marsilio Ficino. Nothing in the room is an accident, nor--given Neopythagorean thought, and the relatively advanced understanding of human anatomy during the early 16th century--is it difficult to believe that God would be represented as a human brain. (Human and animal dissection was a fairly common pursuit among artists/scientists at the time). Christiane Joost-Gaugier, a world-renowned Renaissance scholar, has published an excellent treatise on the Sistine Chapel and Marsilio Ficino. (She was my advisor in college: Needless to say, her course on the Sistine Chapel was absolutely fascinating.) Although Michelangelo is responsible for the design and execution of the Sistine Chapel, the mind-bogglingly complex intellectual scheme underpinning the entire room was developed by the Neopythagorean Renaissance philosopher, Marsilio Ficino. Nothing in the room is an accident, nor–given Neopythagorean thought, and the relatively advanced understanding of human anatomy during the early 16th century–is it difficult to believe that God would be represented as a human brain. (Human and animal dissection was a fairly common pursuit among artists/scientists at the time). Christiane Joost-Gaugier, a world-renowned Renaissance scholar, has published an excellent treatise on the Sistine Chapel and Marsilio Ficino. (She was my advisor in college: Needless to say, her course on the Sistine Chapel was absolutely fascinating.)

]]> By: cinemajay http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666941 cinemajay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666941 quickbrownfox, covered mentioned this in a previous post: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/11/elevator-mural-casts.html#comment-663166 quickbrownfox, covered mentioned this in a previous post: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/11/elevator-mural-casts.html#comment-663166

]]> By: DarthVain http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666942 DarthVain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666942 This er... blows my mind... Perhaps this is Michelangelo playing a bit of a joke on the church... If so, that guy had a pair, as that would have been a bit dangerous back then I would think. I certainly never noticed the resemblance before myself. This er… blows my mind…

Perhaps this is Michelangelo playing a bit of a joke on the church…

If so, that guy had a pair, as that would have been a bit dangerous back then I would think.

I certainly never noticed the resemblance before myself.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666961 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666961 I think it's fairly generally agreed this is a deliberate, symbolic choice. A search for "creation of Adam" and "brain" will find a lot of discussion on the matter, more than I feel confident selecting from. I think it’s fairly generally agreed this is a deliberate, symbolic choice. A search for “creation of Adam” and “brain” will find a lot of discussion on the matter, more than I feel confident selecting from.

]]> By: benposch http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666967 benposch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666967 even Michelangelo knew that god is only in your head. even Michelangelo knew that god is only in your head.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-670039 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-670039 noting new here - this and other 'anomalies' are discussed in the sistine secrets http://www.amazon.com/Sistine-Secrets-Michelangelos-Forbidden-Messages/dp/006146905X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261335253&sr=8-1 noting new here – this and other ‘anomalies’ are discussed in the sistine secrets http://www.amazon.com/Sistine-Secrets-Michelangelos-Forbidden-Messages/dp/006146905X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261335253&sr=8-1

]]> By: Tdawwg http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666970 Tdawwg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666970 Another theory holds that God and the pink cloud thingy is a uterus. Thus the dangers of "this thing looks like this other thing I'm thinking it looks like." Another theory holds that God and the pink cloud thingy is a uterus. Thus the dangers of “this thing looks like this other thing I’m thinking it looks like.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666980 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666980 Coincidence? ...YES. That's what a coincidence is. Coincidence?

…YES. That’s what a coincidence is.

]]> By: Karl Jones http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667237 Karl Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667237 <blockquote> So what he's saying is, God is all in our heads? </blockquote> Not "all" in our heads -- His arm is jutting out. Something like Athena emerging from the forehead of Zeus, except God is an old white guy surrounded by adorable <em>putti</em>.

So what he’s saying is, God is all in our heads?

Not “all” in our heads — His arm is jutting out.

Something like Athena emerging from the forehead of Zeus, except God is an old white guy surrounded by adorable putti.

]]> By: BicycleRepairMan http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-668011 BicycleRepairMan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-668011 I, too, see the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Pasta Be Upon Him. I, too, see the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Pasta Be Upon Him.

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-666990 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-666990 Yeah, you've got a good point there and I was going to mention the uterus thing. In that view, the green bit is seen as a cut umbilical cord. Yeah, you’ve got a good point there and I was going to mention the uterus thing. In that view, the green bit is seen as a cut umbilical cord.

]]> By: Flashman http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667252 Flashman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667252 I can see Hmmmm's point, that it's a heart, not a brain: the pink cloth is the heart (the folds of cloth become arteries), and God and all of the little angels are clogging it up like cholesterol. I can see Hmmmm’s point, that it’s a heart, not a brain: the pink cloth is the heart (the folds of cloth become arteries), and God and all of the little angels are clogging it up like cholesterol.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-675188 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-675188 you all have it wrong look again it is the stomach no doubt you all have it wrong look again it is the stomach no doubt

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-838004 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-838004 Only a brainiac would see brain. A man of passion would see the uterus.http://www.med-ars.it/gynecology/1.htm Only a brainiac would see brain. A man of passion would see the uterus.http://www.med-ars.it/gynecology/1.htm

]]> By: johnocomedy http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667003 johnocomedy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667003 This is your brain. This is your brain on the Sistine Chapel. Any questions? This is your brain.

This is your brain on the Sistine Chapel.

Any questions?

]]> By: Giant Robot Architect http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667259 Giant Robot Architect Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667259 But what's really strange is that God is literally mooning us in the panel "Creation of the Sun and Moon" just adjacent. But what’s really strange is that God is literally mooning us in the panel “Creation of the Sun and Moon” just adjacent.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667516 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667516 about 3 years ago, a brazilian professor released a whole book about similarities between Michelangelo's frescos and body anatomy http://www.amazon.com/Secreta-Michelangelo-Barreto-Marcelo-Oliveira/dp/8575811142 about 3 years ago, a brazilian professor released a whole book about similarities between Michelangelo’s frescos and body anatomy http://www.amazon.com/Secreta-Michelangelo-Barreto-Marcelo-Oliveira/dp/8575811142

]]> By: Mr. Customer http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667006 Mr. Customer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667006 I'm kinda surprised at the number of boingers that are surprised. Normally, you guys know everything and have to educate my ignorant ass. I’m kinda surprised at the number of boingers that are surprised. Normally, you guys know everything and have to educate my ignorant ass.

]]> By: damianpeterson http://boingboing.net/2009/12/16/brain-on-the-sistine.html#comment-667023 damianpeterson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-667023 Does this mean that God is the reptilian part of our brain? Deep. Does this mean that God is the reptilian part of our brain? Deep.

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