In this second class, we delved deeper into the language used when discussing art and periods of art. The Renaissance, as a rebirth of the Classical ideas which had been “lost,” inherently presents itself as “better” than what was produced between those periods. The definition of “best” art which Vasari and Palmieri establish is therefore extremely biased, as it not only focuses on specific Italian regions but also wholly discounts any art created during the Middle Ages. In history in general, the use of terms such as Gothic and vandalism to describe art inherently discredits it, as the Goths and Vandals are considered barbaric for their role in the fall of Western Rome. In truth, what people consider “good” art is based on the times in which they live and the values they hold. Renaissance art focused on themes and was created for purposes largely different from that of previous artists, but that does not make it “better.” Only by diving into the full context of a work, including the beliefs and desires of those who both created and viewed it, can we understand how and why it was created. “Progress” in art is really just change, and occurs due to shifting desires instead of a true natural “improvement.”