However, the crew reported that they knew about the switch but decided to go with thumbs-up meaning life and thumbs-down meaning death, as how audiences would likely perceive these signals by contemporary use of " thumb language." With this in mind, Scott could have researched the real meaning behind the thumb gestures but instead, like most, he associated the thumbs-down with a call for death. The gladiator painting inspired Ridley Scott, and he agreed to make the film on the spot. Accessed October 25, 2018.Based on the behind-the-scenes of the making of Gladiator, the screenwriters came to Ridley Scott with their script, proposal, and a copy of the Thumbs Down painting. “Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down? Looking at Gerome’s “Pollice Verso”’ August, 6, 2010. “The Truth About Gladiators And The Thumbs Up.” October 23, 2014. “Naked Truth About Academic Art.” Daily Art. Art review: 'The Spectacular Art of Jean-Léon Gérôme' J. Italy “Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down? From Gladiator to FB, The Roman Roots of Pollice Verso.“Jean-Leon Gerome.” Accessed October 25, 2018. And amongst the irrelevant comments from your mom telling you to call her, and the gif of Bert and Ernie from your uncle, you see a plethora of likes in the form of a blue and white “thumbs up” in your notifications. Everyone should appreciate this work of art. Despite your better judgment, you’d decide to post it on Facebook as well so it can get more exposure. Like the Vestal Virgins (the group of women in white veils), the varied faces of the audience in the Coliseum, the sandal on the throat of the defeated fighter, and the intricate golden armor of the victorious gladiator. But you wouldn’t post the pic in its entirety on Instagram, you’d probably slice it up into smaller images that were zoomed and cropped into the areas that invoke the most emotion. And the best way to do that is post it on social media. You almost feel compelled to show others so they can feel what you’re feeling. There are so many stories being told from corner to corner. It’s hard not to feel the presence of the scene in Pollice Verso. Gladiator is wildly historically inaccurate, down to the “pollice verso” gesture itself, but at the end of the day, it’s still a testament of respect when art inspires art. Especially when you realize that this was created before filmmaking was even a thought. But it isn’t hard at all to see how this type of painting could inspire a director. This painting has that same quality, except, you know, it’s already in a museum. Great cinematography means that you could pause any section of a film, and the frame on the screen should be worthy of hanging up in a museum. “That image spoke to me of the Roman Empire in all its glory and wickedness." Pollice Verso really feels like a screenshot from a movie. That uncertainty and intrigue of this painting was what convinced renowned filmmaker Ridley Scott to direct the movie "Gladiator" (2000). The mystery surrounding the true meaning of the thumbs only adds to the level of suspense conveyed in the scene. And there isn’t enough evidence to support either claim. Some people say it was the opposite of that. Some people believe the thumbs up meant they wanted them to live, and thumbs down meant they wanted them to die. But in the 21st century, nobody can agree which expression implied what. Depending on the gesture, they could tell them to kill the loser, or spare him. It was a gesture given by the audience to tell a gladiator what they wanted them to do to a fallen fighter. Pollice Verso, whether you’ve seen it before or not, could be responsible for why we attribute thumbs up to mean good, and thumbs down to mean bad. It’s the name of a painting by artist Jean-Léon Gérôme that roughly translates to “turned thumb”, a hand gesture derived from the Roman gladiator days. No, Pollice Verso doesn’t mean that two cops are talking to each other.
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