Heads up! a bit of a transgression….I have to apologize for the overtly political bias that this post represents. I am very aware that I am stepping into dangerous territory as a teacher, but the fact is that this beautiful work connects quite nicely with some of the earlier posts that more strictly adhere to the topic of light. this is a wonderful example of the power of image making.
I thought this video was a great example of what we talked about in our last crit. Burtynsky shared how he never set out to photograph things of this nature, but in searching for what he was passionate about photographing he fell into a theme that developed on its own and led him to seek to learn more and explore the topic on another level. It seems that as we have discussed, we quite often set out with an idea of what we think we are interested in, but as we pursue what we think we want, we discover a desire that we never knew we had. As an Urban Planning minor, I thought it was interesting that China's lack of green space was pointed out as being surprising and as an example of poor urban planning. Although westernized planning promotes green space for a myriad of reasons, I don't think China's choice to forgo green space in favor of development and industrialization was a poor choice, but rather a decisive decision intended to create a certain mindset with in Chinese culture. China's goal it to put people tp work and to incerase their GDP through production. The goal is not to encourage people to stop and take a stroll through a park, and so through limiting green space people cannot engage in an activity for which there is no space conducive to such an activity. Our built environment influences how we think and how we behave, in our current era of globalization and technology, China has made strategic decisions to guide their nation to where they wish to be. We had our period of industrialization, and now that role has shifted.
I personally didn't find this to be too politically stimulating. I just see it as a view of something that is happening in out world. I knew that our world was full of people and the population was growing, but I didn't realize how fast it had grown in the past few decades.I loved the quote that said, “Even though a lot of the pictures are really beautiful to look at, it’s pretty clear that even the beauty you’re looking at is something you intuitively know is not right.” Many of the photos in the Ted talk were breathtaking in a beautiful way and a horrific way. It was incredible to see someone finding something they are passionate about and taking photos of it. In a way, his finding a theme reminds me of how Clare is creating a theme with her feet pictures!
I, on the other hand, saw many things that were politically biased in the article, but I like that. We should talk about politics. It's one of the most dominating parts in out lives. I find it amazing that the population of the world more than doubled since the 1950s, the period in which Burtynsky was born. I think the pictures that Burtynsky took portraying human society's impact on the world and its landscape is truly amazing. It makes you wonder what another fifty years will do to the world. The politics I am wondering is how we'll be able to control population growth. If history repeats itself, there might be over 40 billion people on Earth by 2100 (according to my calculations). Is it justifiable and humane to enforce population control?
I think that this video relates really well to the last two. They are all talking about what we are doing to our planet, how we need to have a more sustainable culture, and what we can do to accomplish this. I also thought that these images were really powerful. They show what we are doing to the environment in ways that we don't see, and don't really want to think about, on a day-to-day basis.
It's also pretty cool that people from all different backgrounds are getting involved in this. If you look at the last three videos you see a couple scientists, a farmer, and a photographer that are all using their unique skill set to try to make a difference and increase the sustainability of the way we live our lives.
I agree with Grace when she said that she doesn't really think that this was too political or controversial. It's the truth that this is what we as humans are doing and that it is going to be bad for us in the long run. Some people don't want to think about that or don't want to admit it so this video may have been hard for them to watch but I think that would have been the main reason for any controversy.
This series of posts presents in even greater detail the flexibility of photography as both an art and as a social statement. Through his photographs, Burtynsky captures the ever-fine line between aesthetics and social message, demonstrating the need for sustainability in human activities. Each is enhanced by the other, overextending the message and the aesthetics to even greater depths. The beauty of the photographs, for example, allow the observer to be sucked in into its art without realizing at first the terrible and horrifying reality of the picture. Once the observer realizes the implications of the picture, though, the effect of disgust is amplified; the result is similar to the question that Burtynsky wants us to ask ourselves: How did we allow our society to be sucked into this situation? How have we allowed the easy comforts of our current life to shroud from the greater truth, that we are ultimately destroying ourselves? Burtynsky used a variety of methods to achieve the above. Most clear are the use of depth of field and juxtaposition. The latter, for example, existed in the contrast between the old woman and a pile of electronic waste building by her home. She has perhaps survived the direct torture of humans upon others, but what has come to infest her home is indirect torture, the one motivated by human progress and not necessarily power. The same can be said for the picture of smiling families in front of a refinery, an image so comical but that ultimately describes the idea that happiness occurs through progress and progress only, as defined by current societal standards. The usage of large depth of fields also allow Burtynsky to imply the non-ending, spiraling nature of these natures, almost like an infinite path. That path, though, leads to more of the same: continuous working and usage and not necessarily to a light or optimal state.
I also found this to not be politically offensive at all- it is exactly what I believe in! I think Burtynsky's work is very interesting, especially how his body of work progressed from a simple thought to a grand collection of projects focusing on more specified themes, such as the current one on water. Needless to say, his work is breathtakingly beautiful. It also has a strange feeling to it, almost like it is from another world, which I think says something about what we are currently doing to our environment is not natural at all. Burtynsky is the perfect example of an artist that creates with a purpose as his artwork carries far greater implications than simply the beautiful images.
Heads up! a bit of a transgression….I have to apologize for the overtly political bias that this post represents. I am very aware that I am stepping into dangerous territory as a teacher, but the fact is that this beautiful work connects quite nicely with some of the earlier posts that more strictly adhere to the topic of light.
ReplyDeletethis is a wonderful example of the power of image making.
I thought this video was a great example of what we talked about in our last crit. Burtynsky shared how he never set out to photograph things of this nature, but in searching for what he was passionate about photographing he fell into a theme that developed on its own and led him to seek to learn more and explore the topic on another level. It seems that as we have discussed, we quite often set out with an idea of what we think we are interested in, but as we pursue what we think we want, we discover a desire that we never knew we had.
ReplyDeleteAs an Urban Planning minor, I thought it was interesting that China's lack of green space was pointed out as being surprising and as an example of poor urban planning. Although westernized planning promotes green space for a myriad of reasons, I don't think China's choice to forgo green space in favor of development and industrialization was a poor choice, but rather a decisive decision intended to create a certain mindset with in Chinese culture. China's goal it to put people tp work and to incerase their GDP through production. The goal is not to encourage people to stop and take a stroll through a park, and so through limiting green space people cannot engage in an activity for which there is no space conducive to such an activity. Our built environment influences how we think and how we behave, in our current era of globalization and technology, China has made strategic decisions to guide their nation to where they wish to be. We had our period of industrialization, and now that role has shifted.
I personally didn't find this to be too politically stimulating. I just see it as a view of something that is happening in out world. I knew that our world was full of people and the population was growing, but I didn't realize how fast it had grown in the past few decades.I loved the quote that said, “Even though a lot of the pictures are really beautiful to look at, it’s pretty clear that even the beauty you’re looking at is something you intuitively know is not right.” Many of the photos in the Ted talk were breathtaking in a beautiful way and a horrific way. It was incredible to see someone finding something they are passionate about and taking photos of it. In a way, his finding a theme reminds me of how Clare is creating a theme with her feet pictures!
ReplyDeleteI, on the other hand, saw many things that were politically biased in the article, but I like that. We should talk about politics. It's one of the most dominating parts in out lives. I find it amazing that the population of the world more than doubled since the 1950s, the period in which Burtynsky was born. I think the pictures that Burtynsky took portraying human society's impact on the world and its landscape is truly amazing. It makes you wonder what another fifty years will do to the world. The politics I am wondering is how we'll be able to control population growth. If history repeats itself, there might be over 40 billion people on Earth by 2100 (according to my calculations). Is it justifiable and humane to enforce population control?
DeleteI think that this video relates really well to the last two. They are all talking about what we are doing to our planet, how we need to have a more sustainable culture, and what we can do to accomplish this. I also thought that these images were really powerful. They show what we are doing to the environment in ways that we don't see, and don't really want to think about, on a day-to-day basis.
ReplyDeleteIt's also pretty cool that people from all different backgrounds are getting involved in this. If you look at the last three videos you see a couple scientists, a farmer, and a photographer that are all using their unique skill set to try to make a difference and increase the sustainability of the way we live our lives.
I agree with Grace when she said that she doesn't really think that this was too political or controversial. It's the truth that this is what we as humans are doing and that it is going to be bad for us in the long run. Some people don't want to think about that or don't want to admit it so this video may have been hard for them to watch but I think that would have been the main reason for any controversy.
This series of posts presents in even greater detail the flexibility of photography as both an art and as a social statement. Through his photographs, Burtynsky captures the ever-fine line between aesthetics and social message, demonstrating the need for sustainability in human activities. Each is enhanced by the other, overextending the message and the aesthetics to even greater depths. The beauty of the photographs, for example, allow the observer to be sucked in into its art without realizing at first the terrible and horrifying reality of the picture. Once the observer realizes the implications of the picture, though, the effect of disgust is amplified; the result is similar to the question that Burtynsky wants us to ask ourselves: How did we allow our society to be sucked into this situation? How have we allowed the easy comforts of our current life to shroud from the greater truth, that we are ultimately destroying ourselves?
ReplyDeleteBurtynsky used a variety of methods to achieve the above. Most clear are the use of depth of field and juxtaposition. The latter, for example, existed in the contrast between the old woman and a pile of electronic waste building by her home. She has perhaps survived the direct torture of humans upon others, but what has come to infest her home is indirect torture, the one motivated by human progress and not necessarily power. The same can be said for the picture of smiling families in front of a refinery, an image so comical but that ultimately describes the idea that happiness occurs through progress and progress only, as defined by current societal standards. The usage of large depth of fields also allow Burtynsky to imply the non-ending, spiraling nature of these natures, almost like an infinite path. That path, though, leads to more of the same: continuous working and usage and not necessarily to a light or optimal state.
I also found this to not be politically offensive at all- it is exactly what I believe in! I think Burtynsky's work is very interesting, especially how his body of work progressed from a simple thought to a grand collection of projects focusing on more specified themes, such as the current one on water. Needless to say, his work is breathtakingly beautiful. It also has a strange feeling to it, almost like it is from another world, which I think says something about what we are currently doing to our environment is not natural at all. Burtynsky is the perfect example of an artist that creates with a purpose as his artwork carries far greater implications than simply the beautiful images.
ReplyDelete