A Snapshot in Time
Stevens said, “Humans do not live in a place but in the description of one.”[1] This quote has caused me to stop and reflect on my own worldview. At one time it seemed that my surroundings were defined by some preset order of things, but this is not the case. The environment does not define man, rather we define the environment. This has been the case since God created man. In Genesis 2:10-20 “Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field.”[2] Morgan, in his book, The Sacred Gaze Religious Visual Culture in Theory and Practice, explores how see the world through pictures, rituals, and human senses.[3] Morgan focuses on art and the way culture interprets the images from different art forms, such as paintings, photographs, advertisements, and electronic media. Visual culture is the phrase that the author uses to define this area of study. It is the way “images, acts of seeing, and attendant intellectual, emotional and perceptual sensibilities in which people live.”[4]
I have to admit that this weeks reading was hard for me to get through. The study of art, and how it affects culture is not the highest on my priority list. However, as I read the book, I began to understand just how much art has actually shaped my life. I am World War II history fan, and I read material and watch many documentaries. For years, I have collected many American, German, English, and Imperial Japanese original military manuals. Within my collection are U-boat and American submarine operational manual – not written in English. Even though I can’t read German, the books have a lot of picture and drawings and I enjoy comparing the differences and likeness of submarine operations. They tell a story about the state of humans at that time. These books illustrate technical advancements that took place in the world, but they are just one form of art from which we learn about this history. It is significant that there were also color movies with sound, mass production color pictures, and aerial photography. I have to wonder if the popularity of WWII collecting has been fueled, in part, by the fact that the art of the time more accurately illustrated the human involvement and emotion. Through the art, one can have a sense of involvement.
Morgan states, “Scholars who have “deconstructed” the objects of knowledge have argued that knowledge is discourse, which is an ideological formation that constructs the illusion of truth and reality.” Through the deconstruction of pictures and other forms of art, one has exposure to truth and reality. This is evidenced in the mass amounts of material related to WWII that has been used to expose and uncover the truth about the war, strategies, people, and circumstances. For example, photographs from concentration camps of the time provide a stark reality check for those who refuse to believe that racism and crimes against humanity existed.
[1] Morgan, David, The Sacred Gaze Religious Visual Culture in Theory and Practice, University of California Press, (2005). London, p.39 Kindle
[2] http://biblehub.com/genesis/2-19.htm
[3] Ibid 39
[4] Ibid 47
About the Author
Richard Volzke
5 responses to “A Snapshot in Time”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi Richard! I would love to hear more about this…”The environment does not define man, rather we define the environment.” It’s an interesting thing and somewhat contrary to what I’ve been thinking lately. Tell me more!
Stefania,
Looking back on my past experiences, I see that I have influenced my surroundings by the way that I responded to others and my interaction with them. For example, in my marriage, the way that I act and respond influences the environment in my relationship and in our household. I directly define my family environment, as do other members. Each one of us shapes the world around us. We are all living art forms and contribute to the painting of life in God’s creation.
The range of your interests and experiences never ceases to amaze me Richard. I very much appreciate learning from your real-time interactions. On our summer vacation, we had a chance to visit the National War Museum. While many in our group lingered long in front of every picture, video and interactive display; it didn’t hold the same appeal to me, until I went down to the massive garage where they stored a wide array of armed vehicles and small boats and submarines. You said that, “Through the deconstruction of pictures and other forms of art, one has exposure to truth and reality.” I must confess that art rarely does that for me, but to put my hands on something that is real or even to see actual photographs that is something entirely different, then my imagination begins to get engaged. I think you’re right though, if in face we have access to the deconstruction of a piece of art, then we indeed have the capacity to truth and reality.
Deve,
Like you, art (paintings, etc..) does little for me, but if I can touch and play with something, then it becomes real. I appreciate art and the individuals who create it, but let me work on an army jeep and it becomes real to me. Everyone has a different way they connect with art, and we need to embrace the differences that make us one body in Christ. For me, I can much more easily learn from studying pictures of war than I can of nature. My wife is drawn to pictures of nature, and they speak to her.
Richard,
Thanks Richard!
I can relate to what you are saying. I am a visual learner, so I often will look for the photo or image to add or reinforce what I am learning. As you noted photos, film and images (like the ones you refer to about WWII) convey some of the reality, which impact our emotions and perspective. Being intuitive I also have become aware that I have been influenced by the way people and roles are portrayed. As you were reading did you think about the images that have influenced you spiritually? I found that I was ruminating and even becoming more aware of this.