Here is a little about time.
Does time exist outside of the human perception?
Or is it just a mode of comparing the relativeness of progress against our human circadian rhythm?
Time, Space and Position. Education,
at 1/10000s of a second.
30 seconds, 10m2, Shinjuku, Tokyo.
The first man I encountered on my first night out taking photographs was either mad or drunken; a man of endless charm. He was wearing a purple kimono and dancing but a meter from the rushing traffic, waving his red umbrella. A Japanese Gene Kelly minus the rain. I somehow, without a common language, got him to agree to stand for a few shots for me. And we created this image.
What do you see? What do you not see within this frame?
We see the Japanese Kelly doing his rain dance, we see a train rushing by. But I am there also. Yes, inside that photograph, within that slice of space time… Yet i am invisible. And it is no photoshop trick.
Photo by Levent, www.Silenzia.com
I believe this shot and the next, Harajuku Girl, create a visual representation of our misunderstanding and undermining the importance of our perception of time, space and position.
So what is time? And did you know that time slows down the faster you travel? Now there´s a pickle!
Why do we feel guilty about our use of time? Why do “we” have to do everything within “our” personal lifetimes. And when we know that we cant, why do most of us clam shut and stop, and seek getaway lifestyles, saying “oh come on live man we cant change anything”? I must disagree.
When the bridge is solid, the train liquid, Kelly a duality, and I invisible within the same frame of time, that our positions and speed in space/time matter for our existence becomes clearer.
We always seem to want more time… And if we have it, more often than not, we waste it. So, is it then the amount of time we have or our perception of it that is the problem?
I believe, very strongly, that with the right kind of education, “we” can achieve self realization and thus a peaceful and harmonious life within some 300 years.
I can almost see you raising your eyebrows, thinking “but, but…” yes i know… you wont be here. And neither will I.
Photo by Levent, www.Silenzia.com
The education i propose would build up on the current, leading us towards understanding of the self and of the human. We would at last be learning about how we actually work; physiologically, psychologically, and how we are still in the very beginnings of our evolutionary path. You would be surprised to find out how many of the feelings that you believe to be real and are at unease with are in fact defenses that cover miseducation from family, school, media etc, of the past.
This uncertainty is obvious in individuals and in our societies, masks of happiness sell for higher and higher prices, mere distractions for the moment. And media, as a redirection of our internal struggle, or materialism, as a burst of well paid for natural, chemical happiness keep us in a constant state of denial.
Its time to realize that we are here, now. And the true happiness can only be here with the understanding that the future is there, waiting for those we are here to create. That, i believe is in fact our purpose. Always preparing the future. But we seem to disavow that notion without a seconds thought when we live only for our own petty pleasures and the instant rewards of our game console lifestyles. I propose an urgent revision of our understanding of ourselves. And to ask the question, are we animals, or humanimals?
Today, we do have the science to look within ourselves and understand the inner workings of our own bodies and minds, all we need is to make that choice and have the courage to get to know ourselves. “Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.” said journalist Dan Rather. I think he said it straight. Lets go!
Surprisingly enough it was raining within 20 minutes. Had Japanese Kelly done it? Thats probably somebody else’s research and passion. For now I must bring my train of thoughts to a mid-station here by quoting a true educator, Sir Ken Robinson.
“Creativity is as important in education as literacy. And we should treat it with the same status.”
I hope you will watch his very witty, inspiring and educational talk on the wonderful Ted.com.
And please right click and open the link in a new browser page and watch this video of an amazing Underwater Time Lapse film by BBC. Please do come back to comment as to how these make you feel.