the Lens: July 2007

Wørd

Wørd is a series to explore semantics, hermeneutics, and memetics.

because social, cultural, and political discourse is a train-wreck...a train-wreck that is gaining momentum rather than slowing down.

because dialogue entails 'two words', not just one.

because a meaningful dialogue can only take place when its participants speak the same language.

because speaking the same language entails

having a common and contextual understanding of what words mean
having a good faith interpretation of others
having the ability to disentangle narratives

Lenses are more than devices used to capture photographic images. Along with filters and framing, they are mental constructs through which we interact with and understand everything. They distort the ways in which we hear, see, and think. This has implications that go far beyond photography, but also impacts our flawed understanding of other people and the world around us.

Cultural Criticism begins with literature, philosophy, art, film, music, and television. But more than what these things means to their creators...the lenses and filters through which they made their contribution to culture...our interpretations of these are often tragically wrong...interpreted as they are by our own lenses, filers, and framing. Critical thinking involves challenging these in ourselves more than the other.

Place & Space deals with archaeology, architecture, and urbanism. How humans build and interact with their environment is not neutral, but it forms, focuses, and filters the ways in which we understand our societies and our places within them.

Wørd

PST: BS: III