Playing with Animals

In this blog of the week, we’ll be comparing a statue of a lion from The Metropolitan Museum’s “Playing with Animals” with our very own Plymouth State University panther.

The Romans lion is very different from our modern panther statue. It’s sculpted from a white marble and is fairly large. It stands in a bowing position, with its mane flat against its body. Though it is in a bowing position, it’s mouth is open in a roar. One could say that it is in a ready to pounce position, but the statue does not convey any motion. Which gives more of a bowing position than a pouncing one. It’s also very linear, everything is facing the same direction. The hind legs are also very close together, as are the front legs to each other. One can also see the lions ribs and it’s veins on its back legs. This makes the lion appear very malnourished.

Unlike the marble lion, The black panther is very muscular. They appear similar in size, but the panther seems bigger because of its positioning. It stands on a tall grey stone slab, with a rocky ledge sloping upward. This causes the entire panther to slope in an upward motion. The complete opposite direction of the bowing marble lion. Another difference is the black panther conveys a lot of motion. The motion is successful from a lot of small things. Things like the hook shape of the tail. The head being turned to the side instead of straight on, even the feet being spread apart like the panther is walking. The facial expression is also very different, with more narrowed eyes and a scrunched up nose. The whole statue reads as a panther ready to pounce. Which is very different from the bowing lion.

Looking at the physical differences in these predators doesn’t just show how art has changed, but also how society’s views of these animals have changed. Everything about the lion contradicts itself. On one hand, the lion has its mouth wide open in a roar, this convey’s it’s fierceness and that it is not a predator to be messed with. On the other hand, it’s bowing position and malnourished body convey’s surrender. This is to signify Rome’s power. The lion is a fierce dangerous creature, yet it still bows to Rome. It’s important to show the lions power because, in turn, it shows Rome’s power.

The modern-day panther is also representing power but in a very different way. Its power is represented in it’s ready to attack stance and it’s muscular form. Also in the way, it slopes upward, forcing its viewers to look up at it.  Instead of the panther being a worthy opponent that Plymouth has defeated, it’s the panther itself that is the metaphor of Plymouth’s power. Using it as a logo and mascot, putting up as a statue, is all saying that the students, teams, the school itself are strong like panthers. The panther isn’t Plymouth’s enemy — it is its symbol.