View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-many-meanings-of-michelangelo-s-statue-of-david-james-earle

We typically experience classic works of art in a museum, stripped of their original contexts, but that serene setting can belie a tumultuous history. Take Michelangelo's statue of David: devised as a religious symbol, adopted as a political emblem, and later iconized for its aesthetic beauty. James Earle walks us through the statue's journey, to show how art gains layers of meaning over time.

Lesson by James Earle, animation by Avi Ofer.