tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post2628415023737831425..comments2023-12-30T08:56:43.315-08:00Comments on Language Scraps: Universality: Irrationality, Absurdity, Perception, MagicK, Negative Capability, Awareness, etc.Torben Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04898308267210987998noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-53895278757924558152007-10-02T12:05:00.000-07:002007-10-02T12:05:00.000-07:00***seemLESS web of meaning :)***seemLESS web of meaning :)Grabloidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00145436944422987383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-42755060378160766532007-10-02T12:04:00.000-07:002007-10-02T12:04:00.000-07:00Great comments! I'm bummed out that I missed the d...Great comments! I'm bummed out that I missed the discussion that Scott led on the Eckhardt reading. Scott, maybe we can talk about it sometime and about magick taken as metaphors...<BR/><BR/>I think "uncertainty is the purest mirror" from Torben's comment, really sums things up in a cool way. I also liked the things said about the seeming web of meaning coming clear to us through in depth investigation. <BR/><BR/>Scott's post that is right after this post really explains what I was trying to get at in this original post. I made some comments on it that I had originally planned on making here (it ties into what Torben was saying about film...), but they are complimented better over there...so check it out.Grabloidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00145436944422987383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-20019863359994519742007-10-02T07:25:00.000-07:002007-10-02T07:25:00.000-07:00Hello, yes, hello. It's Michael. I'm well, I'm sor...Hello, yes, hello. It's Michael. I'm well, I'm sorta lost here in this absurd space of language, symbols, things disconnected from substance. Objects, touchy, that's what I relate to. It's like photos. You know, no, you no, well, I know what I mean. Photos are substance and so much more. Photos are only whatever they are at any given moment. Talk about eyes, and beholder, etc, photos represent this entire conversation. Other than that they become something else next, even to the person holding the camera. Well except for the tri-pod, all bets are off if a tri-pod has been enlisted into the army of shutter-bugs.<BR/>I see photos, a great example, consuming this conversation, a snap shot of magik, mystery, verbal incantation, "say cheeze". Photos are: paper, chemicals, time, timing, recognizable, abstract, memory, narrative, dialog, feelings, concrete, perishable, loaded into memory for those who care, especially paper-dolls.<BR/>This is a trial entry. I continue to struggle with fear of technology. I trust this machine will be generous, make me look good, intelligent, connected to something reliable.michael morrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18410891595453473987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-29556416462775400342007-10-01T22:24:00.000-07:002007-10-01T22:24:00.000-07:00That is, makes us smirk :)That is, makes us smirk :)Torben Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04898308267210987998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-77619852165278350282007-10-01T22:20:00.000-07:002007-10-01T22:20:00.000-07:00Just to clarify my last paragraph a bit:The comple...Just to clarify my last paragraph a bit:<BR/><BR/>The complexity I brought up is simply the relation of things previously perceived foreign. When I get a chance sometime, I should post my paper "The Tao of Mormonism." I think I argue for the overlap (although, I don't pretend to understand how the overlap works).<BR/><BR/>Another point from class today:<BR/><BR/>One thing that really interested me is the "irrational" charging of objects. We are usually used to charging objects or ideas with symbolism grounded in convention. Of course, many narrative goals are accomplished through manipulating symbols, archetypes, etc. and creating a new relationship between the word and the thing. Through charging fingernails with magical attributes, we inevitably enter a space of ambiguity, forcing us to further reflect on the word/thing relationship. However, the key to all of us this, is retaining an open mind to absurdity. Drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa makes a smirk because it reflects on the usual word/thing relationship --- it disrupts convention.<BR/><BR/>Integrated studies is a perfect tool to analyze the vast approaches to language. An integrated approach allows for a great deal of ambiguity, pushing us to view several facets of a subject through multiple lenses. I think one of the greatest gifts to a critical thinker is the ability to see relationships and seek to understand them more deeply.Torben Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04898308267210987998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-79268502647630513642007-10-01T21:58:00.000-07:002007-10-01T21:58:00.000-07:00When we first started talking about "negative capa...When we first started talking about "negative capability," a sentence immediately came into my mind: "uncertainty is the purest mirror." As we continue to delve deeper into the complex issues that surround language, I find myself beginning to better understand what this sentence means. <BR/><BR/>As we become comfortable with ambiguity and wrestle with uncertain, or even, irrational ideas, we begin to more fully comprehend the nature of the word and the thing. This "negative" realm has a way of reflecting new light on the familiar realm. I hope I'm not being too abstract. Also, I think uncertainty similarly motivates deeper reflection of self, challenging us to approach more vulnerable aspects of the self. When I watch certain films that stretch me, they have a way of shedding light on my vulnerabilities and fears. When we spout out gibberish, and follow with a conventional sentence, the identifiable sentence becomes so clear! <BR/><BR/>Like Travis, I agree that the closer you get to the issues, the more complex the issues become. However, I think a great deal of this complexity derives from the intricate nature of "simple" things --- the web becomes more distinct, revealing a detailed "web of meaning." Suddenly we begin to see a vast web that connects diverse topics seamlessly, with each contour necessary. <BR/><BR/>I think this is a great post. Hopefully, I'll add a bit more later. Thanks Travis.Torben Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04898308267210987998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-42151829222813930882007-10-01T20:45:00.000-07:002007-10-01T20:45:00.000-07:00wow, I'm deeply impressed at your ability to synth...wow, I'm deeply impressed at your ability to synthesize such a complex set of issues. <BR/><BR/>I too walked away from the class full of ideas, surprised to have learned so much from a practicer of magic I had always dismissed. When taken as metaphors (sorry Alex), the magick and the spells are absolutely fascinating ways at looking at language as a thing and things as language.Scott Abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01782322856303315648noreply@blogger.com