Berger explains that "seeing comes before words (7)" and our perception is never mutual. Individual beliefs or experiences can be considered a conceptual scheme. We rely on what we know to make our own conceptual scheme. We see things from within and are not objective. Individual truths make up our cultural context. Finding truth is a compromise and we don't need to come to an absolute truth, but we just need to open our minds. Goodman also believes that truth cannot be defined. Goodman states that "a version is taken to be true when it offends no unyielding beliefs and none of its own precepts (17)."
James Elkins' "The Object Stares Back" discusses what's in a face. It is difficult to recall a face or even imagine one being described in a book. A face represents mystery. In scary movies, the villain usually hides their face. The girl from "The Ring," is more mysterious and terrifying because her face is hidden behind her long black hair. Another point discussed is when talking to a friend, you expect facial reactions. I enjoy Elkins' analogy where "speaking is like making ripples in a pool of water, and a face is like the wall that sends the ripples back (167)." Faces can also be seen in inanimate objects. Once you see a face in something else, it is captivating and never the same again. Faces are incomplete and a work in progress. They reflect a part of the soul. A face creates images from the mind.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
What's in a Name?
Words bring identity. Language brings a community together and allows for one another to communicate. Davidson argues that intranslatability is not possible with complete failure because both parties need to know that they are not talking about one common object. In order for you to know they're different, you have to know they're not the same. Language communicates ideas and even an attempt to communicate shows partial success. Davidson rejects conceptual relativism.
Language gives an object meaning, but what's in a name? It amazes me that once we see an object, a word connects and brings it to life. Our own beliefs and experiences are affected by what we see. Berger says that "we never look at just one thing; we are always looking at the relation between things and ourselves (9)."
Art surrounds us the same way that language surrounds us. Images tell a story that words can never describe and portray. Sometimes gender roles and society's consumerism distorts natural beauty. Men are dependent on power and women must continually watch themselves. Berger believes that "men act and women appear (47)." Men desire women like an object. Men's sexual desire for women can be seen in images, oil paintings and publicity. Sex sells. As readers, we are active agents living in a passive world. Publicity persuades us of a transformation into a glamorous lifestyle. Berger states that "publicity is effective precisely because it feeds upon the real (132)." We want to be envious of ourselves, so we buy into this fake happiness. Women and publicity have similarities because "to be able to buy is the same thing as being sexually desirable (144)."
Language gives an object meaning, but what's in a name? It amazes me that once we see an object, a word connects and brings it to life. Our own beliefs and experiences are affected by what we see. Berger says that "we never look at just one thing; we are always looking at the relation between things and ourselves (9)."
Art surrounds us the same way that language surrounds us. Images tell a story that words can never describe and portray. Sometimes gender roles and society's consumerism distorts natural beauty. Men are dependent on power and women must continually watch themselves. Berger believes that "men act and women appear (47)." Men desire women like an object. Men's sexual desire for women can be seen in images, oil paintings and publicity. Sex sells. As readers, we are active agents living in a passive world. Publicity persuades us of a transformation into a glamorous lifestyle. Berger states that "publicity is effective precisely because it feeds upon the real (132)." We want to be envious of ourselves, so we buy into this fake happiness. Women and publicity have similarities because "to be able to buy is the same thing as being sexually desirable (144)."
Monday, January 16, 2012
Blog 1: Representation in a Conceptual Scheme
In order to appreciate "Art of Representation," we must first break down our sentence into parts that we can understand in our language, according to Davidson. In class we discussed the definition of representation and what it means in our language. Answers that first came to mind were how one experiences, an indication, an interpretation, or an individual. Representation has a purpose of conveyance, simplifying ideas, increasing accessibility, and showing identity. In our present language, this is what representation means to our class. According to the article by Davidson, language and representation have a vast amount in common.
Without a reference point or framework, the word "representation" can also become incommensurable. Through different perspectives, the word "representation" has different meanings. Although they may all be similar definitions and in the same language, they all vary. Representation to one person could be a sign and to another could be a political statement. Without a framework and comparison, nothing can be taken as fact.
Davidson's example of Plutonian and Saturnian language miscommunication reminds me of the game Telephone as a child. The phrase usually started out simple and told to one person, and by the time the chain of whispers hit the last person, a new phrase evolved. Some sentences are not translatable and should be kept in their native language. The truth is relative to a conceptual scheme. Language can evolve and new theories can become obsolete. Art was used as a practical application, but changed when museums were born and when people became concerned about being aesthetically pleasing to others.
Without a reference point or framework, the word "representation" can also become incommensurable. Through different perspectives, the word "representation" has different meanings. Although they may all be similar definitions and in the same language, they all vary. Representation to one person could be a sign and to another could be a political statement. Without a framework and comparison, nothing can be taken as fact.
Davidson's example of Plutonian and Saturnian language miscommunication reminds me of the game Telephone as a child. The phrase usually started out simple and told to one person, and by the time the chain of whispers hit the last person, a new phrase evolved. Some sentences are not translatable and should be kept in their native language. The truth is relative to a conceptual scheme. Language can evolve and new theories can become obsolete. Art was used as a practical application, but changed when museums were born and when people became concerned about being aesthetically pleasing to others.
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