In the previous post, we have learned that the two pictures on Piroska Gulachi Amulet symbolizes the unity in polarity. Now, we continue our journey of Piroska Gulachi Amulet to the next stop, the implied message through the two faces. Here, we shall explore more about the details on how the creator implied his idea through the pictures. Thus, the pictures serve as a means of communication from the creator to the spectators of his masterpiece.
The Piroska Gulachi Amulet is unlike the other amulets that expose symbols of animals, star constellation, saints, deities, holy names, or even the dreaded ones. Now, why does Piroska Gulachi Amulet shows faces? Face is the part of human body that can tell the true feeling. This is the part that also tells the beauty. Face is the true color of human essence. Humanity is the prominent idea represented in Piroska Gulachi Amulet.
The second question is: "Why are the side faces chosen by the creator instead of the 'facing-to-me' face?" The side face wasn't meant to imply direct communication to the spectators. Yet, it imply a message to the spectators. The message is the one that was mentioned in the earlier post, the unity in polarity. Only by the side face, we can see the direction of attention. If it were facing to us, then, the idea of facing left and right - which are actually facing at the same direction - would be nullified.
It's the genius of the creator that by choosing the side face, he could still include the essential parts of the face that can tell the nature of a human. The side face still includes a forehead, eye, nose, lips, ear and chin. These elements of a face can tell the characters of a man and of a woman depicted on the amulet.
The man (big-nosed granpa) and the woman (long-forehead granma) characters in the amulet suggest a contradictory idea. It supports the existing duality message in the amulet. Not only viewed from the gender, they are also viewed from the personality traits. Both of them have contradictory personality traits.
Based on the idea proposed by Florence Littauer, there are 4 types of personality. They are sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic and choleric. In this amulet, I have noticed two of the four types. They are choleric and phlegmatic. Choleric belongs to the man and the phlegmatic belongs to the woman.
Choleric personality makes a person has leadership quality. He is dominant, aggressive, discipline, and controlling. The melancholic personality is more withdrawn, sensitive, analytical, introvert, calm, deep, and aesthetic. Melancholic people tend to follow instead of leading. They prefer to support and the choleric really need these people to 'decorate and beautify' their leadership. Choleric have to be very careful about the sensitive feeling of these melancholic if they want to benefit from the melancholic.
How can I conclude that? We agree about the stern face of the granpa. The eye is prominent and looks staring. The eyebrow - although indistinct - descending to the front face. We can even draw the straight line from the forehead to the chin.
The man's head looks smaller than the lady. This way allows the head includes the ear. In my opinion, a great leader must have active listening. By active listening, a great leader looks humble and absorbs information from others to consider wisely when he wants to make decision. This is why the ear is an important part for choleric character as depicted in the amulet.
Melancholic look can be found in the granma picture. The forehead is longer and very prominent. It makes the eye drawn back. The eye looks very calm and not staring like granpa's. Part of this face covers half of the amulet. Maybe, the creator wanted to describe the beauty dominantly as this is a melancholic trait. The eyebrow is clear to signify the beauty of a woman. Beauty is identical to melancholic personality.
The reason why I choose to interpret the faces as melancholic and choleric is because of the contradictory elemental they relate. Choleric is ruled by the spirit of fire whereas melancholic is ruled by the elemental spirit of water. We also relate fire and water with thanatos and libido respectively. Choleric and melancholic also relate to death/destruction/chaos and life/creation respectively. In conclusion, the distinct contradiction is chosen to be the most suitable way of interpreting the pictures.
Side Face
The Piroska Gulachi Amulet is unlike the other amulets that expose symbols of animals, star constellation, saints, deities, holy names, or even the dreaded ones. Now, why does Piroska Gulachi Amulet shows faces? Face is the part of human body that can tell the true feeling. This is the part that also tells the beauty. Face is the true color of human essence. Humanity is the prominent idea represented in Piroska Gulachi Amulet.
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| One sided face of the big-nosed granpa |
The second question is: "Why are the side faces chosen by the creator instead of the 'facing-to-me' face?" The side face wasn't meant to imply direct communication to the spectators. Yet, it imply a message to the spectators. The message is the one that was mentioned in the earlier post, the unity in polarity. Only by the side face, we can see the direction of attention. If it were facing to us, then, the idea of facing left and right - which are actually facing at the same direction - would be nullified.
 |
| One sided face of the long-forehead granma |
It's the genius of the creator that by choosing the side face, he could still include the essential parts of the face that can tell the nature of a human. The side face still includes a forehead, eye, nose, lips, ear and chin. These elements of a face can tell the characters of a man and of a woman depicted on the amulet.
Choleric and Melancholic Personalities
The man (big-nosed granpa) and the woman (long-forehead granma) characters in the amulet suggest a contradictory idea. It supports the existing duality message in the amulet. Not only viewed from the gender, they are also viewed from the personality traits. Both of them have contradictory personality traits.
Based on the idea proposed by Florence Littauer, there are 4 types of personality. They are sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic and choleric. In this amulet, I have noticed two of the four types. They are choleric and phlegmatic. Choleric belongs to the man and the phlegmatic belongs to the woman.
Choleric personality makes a person has leadership quality. He is dominant, aggressive, discipline, and controlling. The melancholic personality is more withdrawn, sensitive, analytical, introvert, calm, deep, and aesthetic. Melancholic people tend to follow instead of leading. They prefer to support and the choleric really need these people to 'decorate and beautify' their leadership. Choleric have to be very careful about the sensitive feeling of these melancholic if they want to benefit from the melancholic.
How can I conclude that? We agree about the stern face of the granpa. The eye is prominent and looks staring. The eyebrow - although indistinct - descending to the front face. We can even draw the straight line from the forehead to the chin.
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| Prominent staring eye and the descending eyebrow |
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| The ear for active listening is important for a great leader. |
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| The eye is withdrawn and calm. The eyebrow is clear to signify the beauty of a woman. |
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| The face is covering the half of the amulet to emphasize the beauty. |
Choleric Is to Fire as Melancholic Is to Water
The reason why I choose to interpret the faces as melancholic and choleric is because of the contradictory elemental they relate. Choleric is ruled by the spirit of fire whereas melancholic is ruled by the elemental spirit of water. We also relate fire and water with thanatos and libido respectively. Choleric and melancholic also relate to death/destruction/chaos and life/creation respectively. In conclusion, the distinct contradiction is chosen to be the most suitable way of interpreting the pictures.
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