Aries Essay

Aries Essay

1. French Philosopher & Social Historian

   • Significant and influential philosopher to study childhood in past history
   • Research is extremely influential but has been criticised as to the reliability of his evidence and approach

2. Aries

   • Made controversial claim that childhood as a concept did not exist in medieval society and not discovered until after the middle ages
     • Discusses these ideas in his book 'centuries of childhood' where he explores the idea that childhood is a social and historical construct

3. Thesis

   • Aries: Childhood as a concept did not exist in the middle ages
     • He considered that childhood was socially and historically constructed
       • Also made the bold claim that children were not viewed as different to adults due to the lack of social boundaries in medieval times
         • Stated that children and adults were part of the same social environment; therefore there wasn't any seperation between the two social groups
           • Cunningham (2006) stated that children simply meshed into the adult world
             • Aries claimed that medieval society lived, worked and played in the same social space meaning that children lived in close proximity to adults and therefore could not be distinguished from adults
               • Consequently, there wasn't a divide between social groups, age, class or gender.
   • ART
     • Aries observed the lack of children in medieval art.
       • Aries stated that there simply wasn't a place for childhood in medieval society, thus they did not attempt to represent it in their artwork (Aries, 1996).
         • He noticed that where children were present in religious paintings, that they resembled mini adults
           • This is because children and adults were dressed alike
             • This was shown in the dress they wore (of an adult nature)
               • And of the proportions of their limbs portrayed in the picture in conjunction with the clothes, exhibited that there didn't appear to be a distinction
                 • Aries evidence was based on religious images approved by churches. This meant that his paintings portrayed religious scenes and symbols
                   • These paintings were used as a method of sending religious messages to the mostly illiterate population, therefore the paintings did not represent reality
                     • He concluded that the understanding of the 'nature of childhood' was absent in medieval society.
   • CODDLING
     • 16th century - children started to impact the lives of adults and be viewed as sweet and innocent
       • Aries understood this newfound concern for children's welfare to be initiated by the introduction of the coddling period
         • At this time children became a source of amusement for adults
           • Adults supposed that children were immature and needed to be disciplined
             • Aries considered these rules to have derived from early writings that discussed the moralistic period
               • He believes they affected the contemporary education system and the way that modern day society raises children
                 • During this period, portraits of dead children began to emerge. This portrayed the beginning of an emotional relationship between parents and children
                   • Aries acquired evidence from correspondences concerning adults. Parents started to demand vaccinations against smallpox for their children.
                     • This exhibited an emotional connection and increasing concern for children's health. This led to a diminution in infant mortality rates,
   • SEXUAL MATTERS
     • Unacceptable difference between childhood in the past and today is the attitude concerning sexual matters
       • Today's society - unacceptable to talk about sexual matters in the presence of children but in past societies this was percieved as normal
         • Aries studied Louis XIIII's diaries of his life as a child. It demonstrated the carefree outlook on sexual behaviours involving children
           • Common to play with children's genitals. Children were not protected from sexual acts.
             • Dainville (1940) stated 'They had heard everything and seen everything'
               • This supports aries argument by showing the inevitable absence of distinct adult and child worlds
   • EDUCATION
     • Significant movements that demonstrated the divide was the introduction of the education system
       • Medieval society mixed children and adults of all ages together in the same classroom
         • They were not concerned about age difference,
           • Today children divided into age appropriate classes regarding intellectual ability.
             • This hows how medieval society did not distinguish adults and children as different social groups

4. RIGHT AND WRONG CRITICISMS

   • Although Aries was influential many criticised his work
     • Nelson (1994)
       • Claimed that he misinterpreted the lack of children in paintings for a lack of interest in children.
       • Also argues that Aries focused on religious art and children being displayed as mini adults and disregarded other sources of evidence that may challenge his theory
       • Finally suggested, Aries undervalued the affection that medieval parents had for their children.
   • Martindale (1994)
     • Critiqued Aries by declaring that he was wrong in proposing that the high death rates of children in the middle ages instigated parents to avoid emotional attachment to their children
   • Pollock (1983)
     • Disapproved with Aries use of secondary evidence, considered that the history of childhood should be based on primary sources
     • Although Aries used diaries to support thesis, Pollock states that the evidence was specifically chosen to support his theory, leading to a misinterpretation of how children were perceived and treated in the past
     • Finally argued that when primary sources were used, they displayed a less pessimistic view of childhood in the middle aged
   • Wilson
     • Aries seems to assume that art directly reproduces or reflects life. Doesn't consider that it may be subjective or that i's about an artistic trend
       • Cunningham notes, Aries cites only those aesthetic objects which support his argument concerning the discovery of childhood in the modern era, and is unaware of other medieval sources showing a naturalistic portrayal of childhood

5. OWN OPINION

   • Not in complete agreement with Aries thesis
     • Interesting points - medieval Europe, lack of social boundaries due to sharing the same social environment.
       • In contrast. In agreement with Pollock claiming that aries should have used primary evidence. Backed up by Wilson - Art may be subjective