Category Archives: painting

Nightmare Scenarios

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As my mind wanders these days it finds its way into various nightmare scenarios: unsettling thoughts about what may happen when I embark on a soon to occur trip across the big water. I’m having dire imaginings about potential occurrences; lost or pilfered necessities like phone or passport, missed travel connections, unavailable accommodation; the list goes on and on. These thoughts are occurring to me frequently and in great detail and last until I can forcefully break from beneath the dark cloud and relax my furrowed brow, only to imagine another unpleasant scenario a few hours later.

As I check and recheck my travel plans, entertain alternative options just in case, I have to wonder if I’m not making the whole future enterprise more complicated than it needs to be. I know, having traveled as much as I have, problems can be solved, the locals are helpful, and worst-case scenarios are unlikely to occur.

My mind will continue to race and I will worry but I’m still not buying insurance.

An Unsettling Scenario

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I’ve been reading how the infiltration of artificial intelligence entities, robots, into the public sphere has the potential, as AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, to undermine the free and open exchange of ideas necessary to a democratic society.
Algorithms, as anyone who consumes social media knows, feed the reader more of the same. The potential for these entities to harbor hidden agendas, to move the consumer into conspiratorial beliefs is a real concern. The complex nature of the information produced through the computer system, based as they are on a multitude of factors, makes deciphering the how and why of the digital results beyond the comprehension of most human agents leading many to simplistic beliefs in deep state conspiracies like Qanon.
Hopefully mechanisms will be put in place and sufficient political will will be exercised to regulate the increasingly sophisticated cyber beings.

Science and the Humanities

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I’ve been reading, lately, about the distrust science elicits these days from diverse segments of the populace. Apparently, the condemnation isn’t coming only from the religious right who might, I suppose, have a problem with the dismissal of dogmatic beliefs toward which empirical investigation tends to lead, but also from certain intellectuals who see science as reductive explanation for the complexities of our world.

I must admit this second concern resonates with me a bit, being inclined as I am to wonder in awe at the mysteries of nature. My readings have awakened me to the realization that through aesthetic contemplation I can gain a deeper, richer experience of the natural world I find so compelling. The mysteries of consciousness, addressed with such magic by the Surrealists, becomes even more intriguing when considered in the light of neuroscientific studies on the human brain. Art can be appreciated in greater depth when considered in context, provided through historical and archaeological investigation and the psychology of aesthetic response is considered.

I’ll keep this in mind, well, at least be peripherally aware of the contribution science might play in my daily aesthetic experiences even though I find it hard to put language to the ephemeral.

 

Populism

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Political populism appears to be in the ascendance these days.  The idea the ‘power’ is in the ‘people’, the ‘people’ being those rightfully in control, dismisses the opposing views of the minority.  Opposition is unacceptable, lost elections must be the result of fraud, theft; criticism the purview of ‘intellectual elites’.   

Populism simplifies, views differences in terms of power, who’s in charge, distrusts the complexities of democratic structures that require ongoing dialog to self-correct when necessary.  The ‘power of the people’ will be placed in the hands of a strongman who will suppress, unde4rmine institutions in order to impose the ‘will of the people’.   

The attraction of such a position must have something to do with a sense of social impotency, a lack of faith in a democratic society.  The danger is the establishment of totalitarian control. 

Unlimited Possibilities

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I’ve been thinking lately about the youthful exuberance, that, these days, when encountered, tends to send me in search of the nearest exit but as I contemplate such behavior, I have to admire the beauty of youthfulness, their sense of an unfettered, unlimited future.

Even as early elementary friendships metastasize into the social pressures of junior high most children anticipate a positive future, at the very least a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how unreasonable their intentions about how to get to that enlightened future many will be able to hold that vision into old age.

Most will need some help getting there, though

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Pseudo-Realities

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I’ve been reading about the sophisticated Virtual Reality apparatuses available these days, effective enough, sometimes, for the participant to lose perspective, sometimes needing assistance to extricate herself from the pseudo-reality.

As exhilarating as these experiences may be, I have to wonder whether a druglike ‘fix’ may take hold of the compulsive user to such extent reality is lost amid pseudo-worlds. But, as I think about it, with the multitude of narratives defining these days what is real and true maybe finding a compatible VR ought to be considered.

Seeing Things for What They Are

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I’ve been relying on the news feeds on my phone to keep track of current events, but lately it’s become apparent to me these sorts of news conveyance are duplicitous, intended to convey a message beyond the simple facts of the news. It would appear the need to reach the largest audience possible has developed a media culture that produces a narrative in sound bites intended to ignite strong reaction, feed oppositional inclinations, with algorithms feeding you information you’ll find most alarming in order to instigate an emotional response, in order, essentially, to keep one hooked. Even sports news feeds look to create controversy hinting at block-buster trade deals and disgruntled players likely to cost teams games.

The answer to this is, of course, to find a source of in-depth news coverage that provides multiple points of view and then take the time to read them.

Favorite Things

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I’ve been thinking about John Coltraine’s riff on ‘Favorite Things’: sixteen minutes of musical invention that captures the complexity of human emotion.

That’s what struck me the first time I heard it, but it occurs to me now that the way I am moved, the way the complexity of sound communicates a depth of meaning beyond words that I find so astounding, must in some way define the human condition.

No doubt, my life experience is nowhere near what JC lived, his alcoholism and growing up as he did in the 40’s and 50’s as a black man is so far removed from my white small-town existence, yet he communicates my sense of human experience so effectively I must bow to his genius.

The Nature of Romantic Love

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I’ve been thinking lately about the nature of romantic interest. It’s pretty clear to me that the idea of ‘being in love’ has an awful lot to do with sexual attraction. The idea of ‘love at first sight’ suggests an hormonal impulse that feeds a normal heterosexual need to pair up, an action dominated by passionate desire that has little to do with intellectual of emotional compatibility.

The need for companionship in a spouse is slow to build and, as sexual desire wains, often a relationship ends before such is realized.

An unfair assessment of trivial youth? At my age I think I’m entitled.

Streaming through Soundbites

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I’ve been thinking lately about my daily consumption of the news. Anticipating, as I do, the discomfiting nature of what I’m likely to hear I rely on the feeds I get through my phone each morning. I’m realizing my perspective on things is being tainted by the sensational nature of these media soundbites.

As troubling as I find this realization, I will continue my sound bite consumption because I know I will find a more intensive investigation of current events to be more painful than worthwhile.