Chamouil was Questions of the Week 5 ‘As Aby Warburg attempted to tie classical paganism to religion, culture, and the modern man, his questioning of the importance of primitive paganism arises. Warburg mentions, “Paganism is an “early” cultural phenomenon, but it returns as a dominant cultural mode at various historical moments, and it remains as a dormant potentiality both in cultural groups and in individual persons.”’This shows the representation of early symbolic meaning can aid in the connection between humans and the societies they are a part of. Warburg was first influenced by ethnologist Adolf Bastian who warned that native cultures were in decline and materials needed to be studied to prevent loss. Warburg's earlier studies at the University of Bonn of primitive religions helped him eventually consider the symbolism of ancient paganism to explain similar symbolism in existing primitive societies. Aby Warburg often pointed out what he sought to frame within Native Americans arts which was the answer of past pagan cultures relating down to modem civilizations, ‘Warburg's analysis of Native American art was framed by exploring symbolization and early paganistic elements of the culture surrounding. Based on his experiences and conversations with tribes firsthand, he was able to question primitive paganism within humanity. ‘Warburg's perception can be seen during his examination of the serpent in various cultures, including Indian and European. According to the text, “The conjunetion of pagan religious representations and artistic activity is nowhere more recognizable than among the Pueblo Indians and that in their culture...one can find rich material for the study of the question of the development of symbolic art."*This shows Walburg understands the strong symbolic representation in both religion and art of Native American culture. Ambivalence of symbolism between various cultures and time frames can be seen through rituals, traditions, and art created and performed. Understanding symbolization had a strong influence on his understanding of both Westem Classicism and Cultural Memory. Warburg was encouraged to study the survival of primitive religions in order to help comprehend European Classicism by Hermann Usener. “His research supports the symbolic representation of ancient paganism being portrayed in some form throughout other existing societies. Specifically, his work in evaluating art of Native Indians aided in the exploration of the Florentine Renaissance. Warburg finalized that modem societal culture connected to transformation and preservation of symbol production over time. To me, this shows symbolization within one culture, such as the serpent and its interpretation in early Indian culture, helps explain another culture's symbolic representation, such as the early Europeans connection between serpents and darkness. + Warburg, Aby,lmages from the Region of the Puebio Indians of North America translation and essay by Michael P. Steinberg Ithaca: Comell University Press, 1996) “Aby Warburg's Kreuzlingen Lecture: A Reading." pp.70 ? Warburg, Aby, translation and essay by Michael P. Steinberg (1995) pp.60, 3 Warburg, Aby, translation and essay by Michael P. Steinberg (1995) pp.96 * Warburg, Aby, translation and essay by Michael P. Steinberg (1995) pp.97