Shadowing Practice: What is "The Thinker" actually thinking about? - Noah Charney - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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A figure perches, hunched in reflection.
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A figure perches, hunched in reflection.
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But this canonical sculpture isn't just contemplation incarnate.
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French sculptor Auguste Rodin intended it to represent a specific person— and fit into a much larger piece featuring the fiery pits of Hell— a project that obsessed him during the last decades of his life.
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So, who was “The Thinker” and what was he actually thinking?
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Rodin's path to renown was rocky.
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He grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Paris, applied to the esteemed school of fine arts, and was rejected three separate times.
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After several years working as a craftsman, he submitted his first sculpture to Paris’ Salon— and was denied.
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It wasn't until 1877, when he was 35 and fresh off a visit to Italy, dazzled by the Renaissance sculptures on display, that Rodin completed his first major work.
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However, critics accused him of casting the lifelike sculpture directly from the model.
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But he hadn’t, and other artists vouched for him.
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As the controversy concluded, however, Rodin drastically shifted his style.
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Rather than render academically realistic forms, he began creating rougher, more expressive surfaces.
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Advances in camera technology had recently made it possible to capture perfect likeness, but Rodin argued that artistic renderings, though less precise, were more truthful.
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Like artists helming the burgeoning movements of Cubism, Abstraction, and Impressionism, Rodin was poised to modernize sculpture, lending new life to classical forms.
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And in 1880, he received his life-defining commission: a monumental doorway for a new French museum intended to echo the “Gates of Paradise” by Renaissance sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti.
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Rodin proposed its antithesis: "The Gates of Hell,” a swirling, infernal composition featuring over 200 tormented souls.
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It was inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno,” a 14th-century poetic journey through the nine circles of Hell and its doomed inhabitants’ downfalls.
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Rodin began “The Gates” in clay, sculpting small, interlocking figures, his studio filling with fragments to be rearranged, combined, or enlarged as independent works.
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Breaking with tradition, he left visible traces of the creative process.
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However, the museum was never built.
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And the project became a sprawling obsession of endless revision.
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But it was one that would yield some of Rodin’s greatest sculptures— individual elements from “The Gates” that were isolated, refined, and scaled up.
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Like many artists, Rodin had a team of studio assistants who were talented in their own right.
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For “The Gates,” he favored an ancient technique, the lost-wax method, to go from clay to bronze.
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For each sculpture, his team made various molds, beginning with plaster and moving into hollow wax replicas they’d coat and heat, melting away the wax, before pouring molten bronze in.
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Finally, they’d break the outer shell to reveal the solid metal sculpture within.
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Complex compositions were cast in sections and soldered together.
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Then, Rodin’s team would finish the surface, applying a chemical patina.
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Within “The Gates of Hell,” forms described in Dante’s “Inferno” writhed in sin-struck anguish: lovers Paolo and Francesca grappling eternally in forbidden lust and political traitor Count Ugolino cannibalizing his sons in his final desperate moments.
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Rodin also found infernal inspiration in other works, like the carnal themes explored in a poetry collection by Charles Baudelaire.
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But above all of this hellish chaos was to be a single seated figure— not just any man, but the author of “Inferno,” Dante, himself, pondering the suffering below, considering human nature’s great pitfalls, the weight bearing down on his fist.
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Rodin originally called him “The Poet,” then “The Thinker.” First cast on its own in 1888, “The Thinker” became a sensation.
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Out of context, the figure came to be seen less as Dante wrestling with sin and damnation, and more of an everyman; a universal symbol of the human mind’s ability to reflect, doubt, and create; or even France itself, striving to balance its values.
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In 1904, a life-sized “Thinker” was installed in public— not overlooking Hell, but crowning a cultural monument.
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And it soon became one of the world’s most famous sculptures.
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But much as “The Thinker” remains eternally consumed by contemplation, Rodin’s “Gates of Hell” remain unfinished.
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Despite 37 years of work, the first bronze cast of “The Gates” was completed nearly a decade after his death.

Context & Background

In the enlightening video titled "What is 'The Thinker' actually thinking about?," art historian Noah Charney explores the significance of Auguste Rodin's iconic sculpture. "The Thinker" began as a part of Rodin’s larger ambitious project, "The Gates of Hell," which draws inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s "Inferno." Charney delves into Rodin's struggles, evolution as an artist, and the transformative nature of his work which reflects broader human themes of suffering and contemplation. This provides a rich context for English language learners interested in expanding their vocabulary and conversational skills through art and critical thinking.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Hunched in reflection - This phrase captures a common posture while deep in thought, useful in day-to-day conversations about introspection.
  • Consider human nature - A phrase that encourages discussions about morality and psychology, applicable in personal reflections or debates.
  • A single seated figure - This descriptive language can be helpful in discussing various forms and subjects in art, enhancing expressive capabilities.
  • Endless revision - A colloquial term that can be used to describe ongoing improvements in any project or personal task, integrating a productive mindset into dialogues.
  • A universal symbol - A phrase indicating broader interpretations or meanings, perfect for discussions about art, culture, or psychology.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize this video for shadow speech practice, follow these steps:

  1. Listen Carefully: Start by watching the video without distractions. Pay close attention to Noah Charney’s pronunciation and intonation.
  2. Pause and Repeat: Use a shadowing app or a recording tool to pause after each phrase. Repeat what you've heard, mimicking Charney’s speech patterns.
  3. Focus on Emphasis: Pay particular attention to the emphasis in phrases like "hunched in reflection" and "consider human nature." Notice how these add depth to his presentation.
  4. Record Yourself: After practicing, record your own voice imitating the phrases. Compare your recording with the original to spot areas for improvement.
  5. Engage with Shadowspeak: Practice using variations of the phrases in your own sentences. This not only enhances your vocabulary but also your confidence in conversational contexts.

By following these steps, you can effectively harness the power of shadowing to elevate your English speaking skills and confidently engage in discussions about art and philosophy. Remember, the beauty of shadowspeaks lies in your ability to transform contemplation into conversation. Happy learning!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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