Context (noun): the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.
I love this photograph. It could be of the salt flats. It could be desert landscape. It could be the arctic snows. Absent of context, how can we know?
The headstone of the 21st century will read ‘Taken out of context.’ I was a teacher when the internet first washed over the land and the question on every educator’s desk was this: how do we teach students to discern what information is valid and what is not? Education is, at least partially, the pursuit and discernment of what is true and what is not.
Discernment (noun): the ability to judge well.
In a world in which any one can post anything about any topic in service to any agenda, void of context and with an astounding expectation of 280 characters or less, how do we judge well? No attention span available. No context necessary. Discernment is out of reach. As W.B. Yeats wrote, “The center cannot hold.”
“The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” (Yeats, The Second Coming)
Context avoidance and manipulation is not unique to the 21st century. It’s been around since the invention of preachers and politicians. We simply have the tools to amplify it and glut ourselves on the fat that remains.
‘Taken out of context’ comes with a cold surgical sister phrase: after the fact. They knew after the fact. He was an accessory after the fact. It was only after the fact that they saw what was there all along.
fact (noun): a thing that is known or proved to be true.
How do you know or prove something to be true? It is the same question educators faced so long ago: how do we discern what information is valid and what is not? Well, begin by slowing down enough, care enough to place the thought, idea, opinion, data, in its full context. Conviction, ideals, truths…all of these lofty words, have meaning and value, become grounded, solid, and meaning-full – in the presence of context.
(The photograph was taken from a ferry cutting through the surface ice at Death’s Door).
pull the camera down and this is what you see
read Kerri’s blog post on ICE LANDSCAPE
Filed under: Perspective, Seeing, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: context, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, discern, discernment, ideals, information, internet, judgment, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, proof, society6.com/twoartists, studio melange, truth, Yeats | Leave a comment »
