On Spectra: Part I
Despite the human mind’s astounding capability to think abstractly and analyze the universe through infinite perspectives, societal trends and cultural evolution have driven us towards thinking only one-dimensionally. The whole emphasis of the line, of the spectrum, in modern day society has cleaved off the most creative part of our analytical ability. The idea of mapping concepts onto one-dimensional spectra arises in nearly every aspect of life, from walking down the street to political forecasting.
Most people most of the time walk in order to get from one place to another. In the first scenario, we spend the entire walk consciously or subconsciously measuring the distance from our destination. In our minds, we draw a straight line (or several straight line segments, if a direct path is impractical) in between our starting and ending point and calculate or estimate our progress along it as we go. Mind you, this is a fairly pragmatic thing to do, as it allows us to reach our final destination relatively efficiently. However, this innate practice subtly yet powerfully shapes the way we view the rest of the world. As we travel from one point to another, we map our incredible three dimensional (or more!) universe onto the simplest possible route (vectorspace), that which happens to be no more than a line. In doing so, we neglect to realize that the other dimensions exist at all, and sadly confine ourselves to a linear, conventional, and uncreative mindset.
Of course, most people can certainly say that they’ve taken a walk at some point in their lives just for the sake of taking a walk, or of clearing their thoughts, perhaps, or of really soaking in that beautiful three-dimensional world (though they probably wouldn’t say it in those exact words). This is a marvelous regression towards our primal instincts of simply appreciating the world’s beauty on the most fundamental level, without need to constantly adapt our interpretations to fit societal standards. Only through this regression to the most basic plateau of understanding can we truly think of the universe through original and creative perspectives. However, and alas, the two different types of walking through this world divorce themselves so mercilessly that only very seldom do any of us find ourselves walking both with destination and appreciation in mind. This world presents to us such incredible marvel each time we walk down the street, and to simply pass it by because it doesn’t lie exactly on our line of travel is heartbreaking.
January 22, 2009 at 2:39 am
Here here!
I’d like to think of the ideal walk through life as being in the form of a helix that extends as far as it can in all radial directions but continues to move forward. You know, a big juicy line that becomes a sort of cylindrical, spacial experience––all the while still centered and balanced. But that’s just conceptual.
I do think you are correct in labeling this human tendency as heartbreaking. It’s interesting to consider the relationship between “beginning” or “primeval” and “creative.” I think you may be onto something, in that there may be some general universal inclination towards stability and thus narrowness and comfort of mind. But then again, things seem to be getting MORE complex. Perhaps creativity will have to redefine itself within more rational terms someday. Or perhaps our impossible fascination with ‘what is complex’ has been steering us wrong all along. Perhaps this admiration for complexity and evolution and betterment in the future is what grounds us to our lines most.
Overall, lovely post as usual. Great new format too!
-M