My first impression of this picture is that it looked like the Iao Needle in Iao State Park in Maui. As a result of my impression I enjoy this picture because it brings back memories of our family trip to Hawaii. What a great trip? Besides the memory of what this picture brings about it is a great black and white picture that has depth about it.
The dense vegetation of different varieties provides a picture that creates a depth, by the very nature of the varied colors of green. The texture that the picture portrays is what gives it character. It is a soothing picture because it allows the individual to obtain their own meaning to the picture.
I look at this picture and wonder how it would be to hike through a place like that pictured. I am guessing that there would be some awesome sights, such as a water fall and I can't imagine what would live in a dense area like this.
Such a simple picture that elicits so many thoughts; most of which are imagined, since the picture itself had very little to say.
Reading through Collapse has got me thinking more about how our society will dissolve. I make this assumption because as we are, we are a country on a fairly self-destructive course. We are recklessly consuming food in volumes that deforms our natural body composition, producing massive amounts of trash that is hardly biodegradable, adopting and celebrating sexual conquest with contraceptive methods that are supposed to be effective most of the time (in regards to pregnancy, not so much viral disease), and selling all of this to ourselves over and over again. Each year there is an upgraded line of BS we have to choose from: a new sandwich at Micky D’s, a new version of I phone that lets you download a mega ton of applications you may never need, and the new Trojan Ecstasy condoms: so important it needed a fairly well done commercial to spread the word (I personally think the “Trojan Man” commercials got the point across more effectively, though it was practically geared towards high school kids). We are committing suicide, and this is hardly an overstatement. What Diamond seems to be doing, like any good intellectual, is addressing fellow intellectuals and those how wish to become less ignorant. Statistically, I imagine, it is impossible for the entire population to be either an intellectual or enlightenment-seeking individuals just as it is impossible for the entire population to be complete fools or people that don’t want to know about anything. Our collapse depends on whether or not enough motivated and powerful people gather up and do something to change our course. I could be jaded, but not assuming control or responsibility is more attractive and easier than becoming part of the group that will rise up to attempt to carry the weight of the rest of us.
When I first saw the image first two words that came up to my mind were trees and computer graphic. When I went into Beth Dow's web page and looked for the image, it showed that it is a pinetum tree and the media used is platinum palladium. I am not familier with the media that she used to create this image, but it definetely makes the image look very much different from an image taken with a camera. What I thought about the image on the first hand was that it looks either old or decaying. After seeing other images that she has taken I have realized that she have captured images of modern structures with antique structures. People can just see it and pass by these structures and not notice that these two unmatching structures are together. One image that looked very awkward to me was the "Colosseum", which contains image of colloseum surrounding a house. This image made me compare the two buildings, in which one building is made only with human strength and the other made with all the modern technologies that are developed.
Jared Diamond, in the video that we watched talks about cities collapsing because of environmental issues and developement of technology and the images that Beth Dow has taken makes me wonder how much more developement in each sight will make those places collapse.
I think Beth Dow’s photographic work is incredibly beautiful. I’ve never seen the “platinum-palladium” print technique used, and I am really drawn to the ethereal, illustrative quality that this process gives to the photos. In addition to the printing technique that she uses, I find her subjects very fascinating. I like the “Ruins” series, although I’m a little confused as to where they are taken – are they actual scenes, or are they staged? (Obviously the “White House” one isn’t real). However, the photos definitely portray the impact that modern society has on ancient society.
I really, REALLY liked the “Fieldwork” series, which conveniently has an artist’s statement accompanying it. Basically, she photographed strange and sculptural forms that she came across during her walks through nature. I think that is a wonderful prospect and she got some stunning photographic results. Her “In The Garden” series is beautiful as well. Dow of course relates to the course because she is using the natural environment as inspiration for her art, and I think it’s great that so many artists are following the same path.
Although Jared Diamond is not such a captivating live speaker, I am really enjoying reading Collapse. It’s very informative and eye opening. His first chapter on Montana was very helpful in defining the problems that societies are facing all over the world, environmentally and economically, and I’m learning a lot about the other societies that he analyzes in the book. Diamond is a pretty astute fellow and I’m glad we’re being exposed to his work.
I looked at Beth Dow's website, specifically "Ruins" and "Fieldwork". Her photographs, as many have stated and as I read in reviews, pays tribute to the 19th century techniques. This specific style appears similar or may even be the same process as Ansel Adams applied. Dow's work, "Fieldwork", is different from Adams work in that her photographs are trying to capture less of the grandeur scale of landscapes and more the subtle beauties of nature. In her artist statement for "Fieldwork" she states that above all, these photographs are about the mystery of beauty and the beauty of mystery. This made me think of what Prof. Trumpey had briefly commented on about Emerson's idea of transcending. In Emerson's "Nature" he says "the lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other", "the simple perception of natural forms and actions in nature, is so needful to man, that, in its lowest functions, it seems to lie on the confines of commodity and beauty", "but this beauty of Nature which is seen and felt as beauty, is the least part", "the presence of a higher, namely of the spiritual element is essential to its perfection". I took those from different parts of the book, but I think it can be applied to what Dow is commenting on about the beauty of mystery and mystery of beauty. Dow's "Ruins" photographs can be applied to a different topic that of which is covered by Jared Diamond. "Ruins" are photographs of resort areas in the Wisconsin Dells. In a review of the work I was reading they comment on how the commercial structures imitate these famous buildings, such as the Colosseum and the White House, are mocked by there surrounding or use, but are also honored. I think the honoring part is honoring the beauty of what once were these majestic civilizations or the romanticized ideas of them. Diamond's ideas and exploration of societies, why some collapse and others survive is needed information for our current situations today. As he said our current path is unsustainable, but well within our capacities to change and solve the problems that face us.
When I look at the Beth Dow's website, I have discovered beautiful landscape photographs which were printed by platinum-palladium technique. This unique technique gives mysterious sensation to the pictures. The black and white pictures accentuate the lines and curves of shape of trees and bushes while taking away the vividness of flowers and plants.
I was fascinated by the Dow's "In the Garden" series. It shows the richness and history of English and Italian gardens. The mixture of untamed wild trees and finely cutted and refined bushes draw strong contrast in beauty. The statues in the garden are intriguing meanwhile they could also convey an ominous feeling.
In her statement, she tells us that she intended to explore the historical concept of paradise. I could see myself mediatating in the beautiful garden and hopping down the wonderous garden full of mysterious statues and trees yet beautiful artifacts and nature. I like how she was successful in capturing "the spiritual urges" that founded the historical gardens. Looking at those gardens has given me opportunity to plunge into the joy of imaginations of fairy tales and novels that I have read.
So far, Collapse has been a smart, educational, interesting and unfortunately depressing read. It is great that we will get to discuss these topics about the history of societies, and relate them to our current situation. It’s a fascinating concept, but the book seems to focus more on the downfall rather than the success of these groups. Perhaps that should be obvious, considering the title, but I think it’s just as important to document our success, as it is to document our failure. Plus, why would it be such a bad thing to loose power anyway? In all of the other books we’ve been talking about how mankind always wants more and more power, money, and processions, but we don’t really need all that to be happy. Why is this any different? For a long time, America has been the most powerful country in the world. Because of the money we’re spending on the war in Iraq and the amount of imports we buy from different countries, we are loosing our standing on the globe. I have relatives who are terrified of China or India becoming the next world super power, but I don’t share their concerns. Why does America have to be the best? Is it really necessary? I’ve been to parts of Europe, which are considered ‘less powerful’ than the U.S. and I love their way of life. To me, the idea of being powerful or fearing collapses are not as important as the happiness and well being of a country. Through my reading, I gathered a list of questions: Is greed for more power the cause of collapses? What traditions are good? What is the ideal society? Can a society survive forever? Will America be the next society to fall? Can we predict what our downfall will be, and act to change that outcome?
Beth's style is very unique and quite interesting. I have to keep clicking on the image to see it closer because i feel like somehow one of them is going to be a drawing. They look like old pen and ink sketches done in the late 1800's of landscapes and buildings. It tricks the eye. I like her subject matter as well, especially ruins because it shows a great juxtaposition between structures of our society and those of long ago. It also is putting structures of modern day that don't have as much meaning or value as those structures from ancient societies. By photographing these strange scenarios she's saying how lightly we take the accomplishments of those societies. Showing how our priorities have changed and how those things don't matter to us in the same way that they used to. We find these large old structures to be amusing and an interesting backdrop for our more material and eccentric interests. We don't find enjoyment through accomplishing big tasks be need to physically more our bodies in an unnatural state (through roller coasters or water park slides) to actually feel anything.
Beth Dow’s work is different than most of the photographers links that have been posted in the past. They are void of color and people. Like the others though she seems to deal with how humans directly impact the landscape without really realizing it. This impression is made clear through the lack of actual people in the images. Only what people have created and destroyed is documented. The process of “collapse” is being visually documented, in a sense. The “Ruins” series is particularly true of this idea. The Coaster image, for example, shows the deteriorating Roman structure in the foreground with a wooden roller coaster in the background. It is ironic because it is like the image is not complete- years from now someone can use the same image and add another structure. Then the roller coaster would be like the Colosseaum. They act as visual timelines and period markers.
Besides being incredibly skillfully done it is important to mention hierarchy. The interpretation I receive from “Ruins” deals less with the environment and more with how cultures have evolved and what the value. The roller coaster is symbolic of entertainment and “the now” while the columned building is symbolic of history and the past. People are less interested in the latter. This value system directly relates to culture and how we present ourselves. I am sure there are people out there who could name what roller coaster that is and what theme park it is from, but fail to know what the other building is and where it is from. It is pathetic. I know neither of those answers so I fall somewhere in the middle. What our society values today will only lead us to collapse.
My first impression on this image is not really strong. I am barely attracted to the image, having hard time to get what the image is for. Connecting to the course materials, it looks like trees that are wholly covered by dust that is caused by nearby architecture’s sink. Or, it looked like trees with snow. When I eventually found out about “platinum-palladium”, I was very attracted to the media. It provides very subtle, but bold feeling to the image. Surfing Beth Dow’s web site, I found her “ruin” series very interesting. I grew up reading many books about Greek myth. I used to memorize all gods and goddess names and what each of them represents even though I can now barely remember Hera was Zeus’s wife. Anyway, her RUIN series had been included with Roman features, which was originated from Greek culture. I found the image decayed temple with rollercoaster merged together was really interesting. It kind of refers to people who treat the “to play” as an holy behavior. Greek gods and goddess like to play and enjoy life of their own a lot just like human. They drink, love, lie, have sex. It recalled my old days.
My favorite Beth Dow piece is ‘Broken Tree’. I love Dow’s photography and the way she prints them is very beautiful to look at. Broken Tree caught my attention because it has a large tree with small and medium sized cut branches displayed at the foot of the tree. It’s strange how we can see these cut up tree is our fireplace and not see the larger picture of where it came from and what the actual tree looked like before it was sliced in half. It’s part of our unconscious process that we grow into, and then need to grow out of. We only see what is there to begin with and the end product, but we do not know how things are made, and in doing so we have lost a sense of reality and the process which creates it. Dow’s work, as well as other artist that photograph nature (like Ansel Adams), always have and extreme sense of environmental protection. Perhaps it’s easy for the viewer to take nature for granted because it’s around us, but as soon as we step back and see it when we’re not physically with it, we miss it and want to preserve it. My hope is that nature will not have to be near extinction in order for the human race to take full action in trying to save it. Whether it actually is savable or not, I am not sure. All we can do is listen, learn, think, and act and then see what happens. I don’t think the situation is completely hopeless, but there shouldn’t be any delay in preventing this catastrophe.
My first impression of this picture is that it looked like the Iao Needle in Iao State Park in Maui. As a result of my impression I enjoy this picture because it brings back memories of our family trip to Hawaii. What a great trip? Besides the memory of what this picture brings about it is a great black and white picture that has depth about it.
ReplyDeleteThe dense vegetation of different varieties provides a picture that creates a depth, by the very nature of the varied colors of green. The texture that the picture portrays is what gives it character. It is a soothing picture because it allows the individual to obtain their own meaning to the picture.
I look at this picture and wonder how it would be to hike through a place like that pictured. I am guessing that there would be some awesome sights, such as a water fall and I can't imagine what would live in a dense area like this.
Such a simple picture that elicits so many thoughts; most of which are imagined, since the picture itself had very little to say.
Reading through Collapse has got me thinking more about how our society will dissolve. I make this assumption because as we are, we are a country on a fairly self-destructive course. We are recklessly consuming food in volumes that deforms our natural body composition, producing massive amounts of trash that is hardly biodegradable, adopting and celebrating sexual conquest with contraceptive methods that are supposed to be effective most of the time (in regards to pregnancy, not so much viral disease), and selling all of this to ourselves over and over again. Each year there is an upgraded line of BS we have to choose from: a new sandwich at Micky D’s, a new version of I phone that lets you download a mega ton of applications you may never need, and the new Trojan Ecstasy condoms: so important it needed a fairly well done commercial to spread the word (I personally think the “Trojan Man” commercials got the point across more effectively, though it was practically geared towards high school kids). We are committing suicide, and this is hardly an overstatement.
ReplyDeleteWhat Diamond seems to be doing, like any good intellectual, is addressing fellow intellectuals and those how wish to become less ignorant. Statistically, I imagine, it is impossible for the entire population to be either an intellectual or enlightenment-seeking individuals just as it is impossible for the entire population to be complete fools or people that don’t want to know about anything. Our collapse depends on whether or not enough motivated and powerful people gather up and do something to change our course. I could be jaded, but not assuming control or responsibility is more attractive and easier than becoming part of the group that will rise up to attempt to carry the weight of the rest of us.
When I first saw the image first two words that came up to my mind were trees and computer graphic. When I went into Beth Dow's web page and looked for the image, it showed that it is a pinetum tree and the media used is platinum palladium. I am not familier with the media that she used to create this image, but it definetely makes the image look very much different from an image taken with a camera. What I thought about the image on the first hand was that it looks either old or decaying. After seeing other images that she has taken I have realized that she have captured images of modern structures with antique structures. People can just see it and pass by these structures and not notice that these two unmatching structures are together. One image that looked very awkward to me was the "Colosseum", which contains image of colloseum surrounding a house. This image made me compare the two buildings, in which one building is made only with human strength and the other made with all the modern technologies that are developed.
ReplyDeleteJared Diamond, in the video that we watched talks about cities collapsing because of environmental issues and developement of technology and the images that Beth Dow has taken makes me wonder how much more developement in each sight will make those places collapse.
I think Beth Dow’s photographic work is incredibly beautiful. I’ve never seen the “platinum-palladium” print technique used, and I am really drawn to the ethereal, illustrative quality that this process gives to the photos. In addition to the printing technique that she uses, I find her subjects very fascinating. I like the “Ruins” series, although I’m a little confused as to where they are taken – are they actual scenes, or are they staged? (Obviously the “White House” one isn’t real). However, the photos definitely portray the impact that modern society has on ancient society.
ReplyDeleteI really, REALLY liked the “Fieldwork” series, which conveniently has an artist’s statement accompanying it. Basically, she photographed strange and sculptural forms that she came across during her walks through nature. I think that is a wonderful prospect and she got some stunning photographic results. Her “In The Garden” series is beautiful as well. Dow of course relates to the course because she is using the natural environment as inspiration for her art, and I think it’s great that so many artists are following the same path.
Although Jared Diamond is not such a captivating live speaker, I am really enjoying reading Collapse. It’s very informative and eye opening. His first chapter on Montana was very helpful in defining the problems that societies are facing all over the world, environmentally and economically, and I’m learning a lot about the other societies that he analyzes in the book. Diamond is a pretty astute fellow and I’m glad we’re being exposed to his work.
I looked at Beth Dow's website, specifically "Ruins" and "Fieldwork". Her photographs, as many have stated and as I read in reviews, pays tribute to the 19th century techniques. This specific style appears similar or may even be the same process as Ansel Adams applied. Dow's work, "Fieldwork", is different from Adams work in that her photographs are trying to capture less of the grandeur scale of landscapes and more the subtle beauties of nature. In her artist statement for "Fieldwork" she states that above all, these photographs are about the mystery of beauty and the beauty of mystery. This made me think of what Prof. Trumpey had briefly commented on about Emerson's idea of transcending. In Emerson's "Nature" he says "the lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other", "the simple perception of natural forms and actions in nature, is so needful to man, that, in its lowest functions, it seems to lie on the confines of commodity and beauty", "but this beauty of Nature which is seen and felt as beauty, is the least part", "the presence of a higher, namely of the spiritual element is essential to its perfection". I took those from different parts of the book, but I think it can be applied to what Dow is commenting on about the beauty of mystery and mystery of beauty. Dow's "Ruins" photographs can be applied to a different topic that of which is covered by Jared Diamond. "Ruins" are photographs of resort areas in the Wisconsin Dells. In a review of the work I was reading they comment on how the commercial structures imitate these famous buildings, such as the Colosseum and the White House, are mocked by there surrounding or use, but are also honored. I think the honoring part is honoring the beauty of what once were these majestic civilizations or the romanticized ideas of them. Diamond's ideas and exploration of societies, why some collapse and others survive is needed information for our current situations today. As he said our current path is unsustainable, but well within our capacities to change and solve the problems that face us.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at the Beth Dow's website, I have discovered beautiful landscape photographs which were printed by platinum-palladium technique. This unique technique gives mysterious sensation to the pictures. The black and white pictures accentuate the lines and curves of shape of trees and bushes while taking away the vividness of flowers and plants.
ReplyDeleteI was fascinated by the Dow's "In the Garden" series. It shows the richness and history of English and Italian gardens. The mixture of untamed wild trees and finely cutted and refined bushes draw strong contrast in beauty.
The statues in the garden are intriguing meanwhile they could also convey an ominous feeling.
In her statement, she tells us that she intended to explore the historical concept of paradise. I could see myself mediatating in the beautiful garden and hopping down the wonderous garden full of mysterious statues and trees yet beautiful artifacts and nature.
I like how she was successful in capturing "the spiritual urges" that founded the historical gardens. Looking at those gardens has given me opportunity to plunge into the joy of imaginations of fairy tales and novels that I have read.
So far, Collapse has been a smart, educational, interesting and unfortunately depressing read. It is great that we will get to discuss these topics about the history of societies, and relate them to our current situation. It’s a fascinating concept, but the book seems to focus more on the downfall rather than the success of these groups. Perhaps that should be obvious, considering the title, but I think it’s just as important to document our success, as it is to document our failure. Plus, why would it be such a bad thing to loose power anyway? In all of the other books we’ve been talking about how mankind always wants more and more power, money, and processions, but we don’t really need all that to be happy. Why is this any different?
ReplyDeleteFor a long time, America has been the most powerful country in the world. Because of the money we’re spending on the war in Iraq and the amount of imports we buy from different countries, we are loosing our standing on the globe. I have relatives who are terrified of China or India becoming the next world super power, but I don’t share their concerns. Why does America have to be the best? Is it really necessary? I’ve been to parts of Europe, which are considered ‘less powerful’ than the U.S. and I love their way of life. To me, the idea of being powerful or fearing collapses are not as important as the happiness and well being of a country.
Through my reading, I gathered a list of questions: Is greed for more power the cause of collapses? What traditions are good? What is the ideal society? Can a society survive forever? Will America be the next society to fall? Can we predict what our downfall will be, and act to change that outcome?
Beth's style is very unique and quite interesting. I have to keep clicking on the image to see it closer because i feel like somehow one of them is going to be a drawing. They look like old pen and ink sketches done in the late 1800's of landscapes and buildings. It tricks the eye. I like her subject matter as well, especially ruins because it shows a great juxtaposition between structures of our society and those of long ago. It also is putting structures of modern day that don't have as much meaning or value as those structures from ancient societies. By photographing these strange scenarios she's saying how lightly we take the accomplishments of those societies. Showing how our priorities have changed and how those things don't matter to us in the same way that they used to. We find these large old structures to be amusing and an interesting backdrop for our more material and eccentric interests. We don't find enjoyment through accomplishing big tasks be need to physically more our bodies in an unnatural state (through roller coasters or water park slides) to actually feel anything.
ReplyDeleteBeth Dow’s work is different than most of the photographers links that have been posted in the past. They are void of color and people. Like the others though she seems to deal with how humans directly impact the landscape without really realizing it. This impression is made clear through the lack of actual people in the images. Only what people have created and destroyed is documented. The process of “collapse” is being visually documented, in a sense. The “Ruins” series is particularly true of this idea. The Coaster image, for example, shows the deteriorating Roman structure in the foreground with a wooden roller coaster in the background. It is ironic because it is like the image is not complete- years from now someone can use the same image and add another structure. Then the roller coaster would be like the Colosseaum. They act as visual timelines and period markers.
ReplyDeleteBesides being incredibly skillfully done it is important to mention hierarchy. The interpretation I receive from “Ruins” deals less with the environment and more with how cultures have evolved and what the value. The roller coaster is symbolic of entertainment and “the now” while the columned building is symbolic of history and the past. People are less interested in the latter. This value system directly relates to culture and how we present ourselves. I am sure there are people out there who could name what roller coaster that is and what theme park it is from, but fail to know what the other building is and where it is from. It is pathetic. I know neither of those answers so I fall somewhere in the middle. What our society values today will only lead us to collapse.
My first impression on this image is not really strong. I am barely attracted to the image, having hard time to get what the image is for. Connecting to the course materials, it looks like trees that are wholly covered by dust that is caused by nearby architecture’s sink. Or, it looked like trees with snow. When I eventually found out about “platinum-palladium”, I was very attracted to the media. It provides very subtle, but bold feeling to the image.
ReplyDeleteSurfing Beth Dow’s web site, I found her “ruin” series very interesting. I grew up reading many books about Greek myth. I used to memorize all gods and goddess names and what each of them represents even though I can now barely remember Hera was Zeus’s wife. Anyway, her RUIN series had been included with Roman features, which was originated from Greek culture. I found the image decayed temple with rollercoaster merged together was really interesting. It kind of refers to people who treat the “to play” as an holy behavior. Greek gods and goddess like to play and enjoy life of their own a lot just like human. They drink, love, lie, have sex. It recalled my old days.
My favorite Beth Dow piece is ‘Broken Tree’. I love Dow’s photography and the way she prints them is very beautiful to look at. Broken Tree caught my attention because it has a large tree with small and medium sized cut branches displayed at the foot of the tree. It’s strange how we can see these cut up tree is our fireplace and not see the larger picture of where it came from and what the actual tree looked like before it was sliced in half. It’s part of our unconscious process that we grow into, and then need to grow out of. We only see what is there to begin with and the end product, but we do not know how things are made, and in doing so we have lost a sense of reality and the process which creates it.
ReplyDeleteDow’s work, as well as other artist that photograph nature (like Ansel Adams), always have and extreme sense of environmental protection. Perhaps it’s easy for the viewer to take nature for granted because it’s around us, but as soon as we step back and see it when we’re not physically with it, we miss it and want to preserve it. My hope is that nature will not have to be near extinction in order for the human race to take full action in trying to save it. Whether it actually is savable or not, I am not sure. All we can do is listen, learn, think, and act and then see what happens. I don’t think the situation is completely hopeless, but there shouldn’t be any delay in preventing this catastrophe.