How Rulers Used Art to Shape Society - Thrones, Propaganda, and Power

In this episode of AP Art History in 15, Mr. Bruns explores one of the most important themes students may encounter on the AP Art History Exam: how rulers used art to regulate society, legitimize authority, and shape public perception across cultures and time periods.

The episode examines the political power of works including the Stele of Hammurabi, Stele of Naram-Sin, Colossal statue of Constantine the Great, the Portrait of Mao Zedong at the Gate of Heavenly Peace, Mao by Andy Warhol, and the Statue of Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Bruns also investigates how female rulers and royal women used art to establish authority and influence society through works such as Theodora and Attendants, the Maya lintel showing Shield Jaguar and Lady Xoc, Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters, The Armada Portrait, and Marie Antoinette and Her Children.

Listeners will learn how form, composition, material, symbolism, and scale helped transform art into propaganda, religious authority, political messaging, and national identity — perfect preparation for thematic comparisons on the AP Art History Exam.