The Power of Simplicity
Authors:
Harjus Birk. Redding, California. Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience major.
Gianni Maize. San Clemente, CA. Computer Science major.
Entry Introduction:
In today’s fast-paced society, we see mechanization taking command over nature in an attempt to overpower and dominate the natural world. Humans have developed the mindset to industrialize in order to improve efficiency, but often times we do not recognize that as a result of our efforts to advance we actually harm the purity of the environment and thus take a step backwards. Our individual images of the Grand Canyon Skywalk and the Human Population Growth Chart are similar in that they help reveal the influence of egocentricity in today’s society. Let’s stop for a second and consider the fact that, though we know our most common daily activities pose a constant environmental threat in the form of landfills, over exploitation of natural resources, etc., we continue to practice environmentally harmful behaviors. We are most definitely affecting the ecological systems that sustain our food systems and yet we do not take initiative in stopping those behaviors before we can only regret our past decisions dreadfully. The backwardness of such a mentality is obvious. It seems that our inherent and all absorbing fascination with the human capacity for discovery has led our race to neglect our direct environment, as we continuously push industry, globalization, and resource exploitation. Our race incessantly tries to prove human dominance over nature and other species, as evident through the construction of the Skywalk and increased mechanization. The desire to advance represents our insatiable desire for universal mastery, and raises the crucial issue of preserving the environment and preventing further destruction of the purity of nature. We must remember to cherish the natural world and environment because it is the world we are going to leave behind for generations to come, and thus humans must judge whether attempts for advancement outweigh the adverse consequences, such as pollution and destruction of the ozone layer. We feel that simplicity is key because often less is more, and this is why nature has been so successful in its entirety as a result of its balance.
A Detailed description of the SkyWalk Image (A practice in rhetorical analysis)
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is illustrated in this picture. First of all, the clouds are white and puffy, and the sky is a peaceful blue hue. We can see the beautiful canyons and their stratigraphy (layers), and the dominant presence nature takes in this setting. However, we also see the Skywalk, which is extended on top of the canyon: the vertical extension contains unnatural-looking stone, and also has windows in the middle of the structure, which one would not expect in a natural setting of canyons and cliffs. The horizontal structure is a walking pathway which sticks out past the canyon: this looks very out of place and aberrant. Also, the greenery that the construction people added to the extension looks so unreal and unexpected at a site where only the stone color and layers make up the canyons. The people walking on the Skywalk look tiny compared to the vast size and height of the cliffs, and the pathway sticks out like a sore thumb in the illustration. The size of the Skywalk is so little compared with the canyon it is built upon; this is evident because the shadow of the walkway is seen on only a tiny portion of the canyon, which is naturally very immense and elevated. Also, from this depiction the walkway looks unsafe: it appears to be very fragile and looks like it might suddenly snap off at any moment. The majestic presence of nature is juxtaposed with the deviant man-made Skywalk structure.
A personal Experience (Harjus Birk) associated with an image (Grand Canyon- Skywalk) *See Images
It has been my family tradition for the last five or six years to visit the Grand Canyon every summer: to my family it represents the graceful beauty of nature and the complexity of Earth’s structures. The first time I went to the Grand Canyon with my family was about the Summer of 2002, and I recall being amazed when I looked at the vast presence of all the canyons, which looked so perfect and had stunning layers. I remember how tiny my family looked compared to the Grand Canyon in our family pictures, and was always afraid that there would be an earthquake and that I would fall down into the deep valleys! This was a testament to my naïve adolescence. When I visited the Grand Canyon National Park I also felt that it was perfect and that nature reigned supreme.
The reason my family fell in love with the Grand Canyon and always came back every summer was because we felt it was a site so impeccable and that nothing about it could be improved. I always used to question my parents as to how the park officials made sure everyone was safe when touring the park, and they always responded that “everything was in balance.” This made me so happy that I looked forward to my family trip every summer. This pattern continued in the summer of 2003, summer of 2004, summer of 2005, summer of 2006, and summer of 2007. I did not visit the Grand Canyon in the 2009 summer as I instead went to visit my grandparents overseas. Nevertheless, during around the summer of 2005 my parents informed me while we were on our way to the Grand Canyon that a project was being pursued where a glass-walkway was going to be built as an extension of one of the canyons. I remember repeatedly asking why because I did not understand why something so pure and natural needed any sort of addendum which might affect the balance of the canyons. We came back the summer of 2006, and also the summer of 2007, which was when my family actually walked on the Skywalk. I was happy to see the great view and size of the canyons via the Skywalk, but remember telling my parents that I thought building the Skywalk was a major mistake. I told them that it looked awkward and out of place. This was an experience that I will never forget, and ever since I have been interested in continuing to visit the Canyons.
Thus, the image reminds me of my experience at the Skywalk - at first glance when I went in real-life it was so new that I was excited to walk around on it. But as time went on I grew to recognize that it actually spoiled the pure and genuine beauty of the Grand Canyon. This illustration helps me remember why I arrived at this opinion: because the Skywalk looks so aberrant and powerless compared to the dominance of the Canyons.
An Explanation of which personal beliefs or values a particular image speaks to (Gianni Maize-Population Growth Curve image) *See Images
Considering the image and the personal values it speaks to in particular, the belief I find is appealed to the most is my idealization of behaving in accordance with a ‘precautionary principle’. That is to say, I believe that on both the individual and the collective scale, the human race has the inherent need to consider the consequences of their actions, and to thereon act accordingly, before actually acting. I hold that this is especially true for those actions that can be deemed significant in terms of the potential direct and indirect effects on local, national, and global, human health, natural ecological systems, biodiversity, and overall well-being. Furthermore, I hold that in acting, ‘we’ should be prepared to remediate for failures in action and to pursue immediate alternative paths in a manner that exemplifies deeply-rooted sense of moral and ethical responsibility and stewardship. The logical reasoning for this ‘precautionary principle’ is founded on the basic personal philosophy that “with great power comes great responsibility”. With our potential for discovery, as a race, humans have the task of also knowing when to unleash this potential, and when to quell it. This is quite contrary to the mindset displayed by the text bubble in the image “I think I can…I think I can…I hope I can…I really hope I can…Man, I hope I can…” where the basic idea is that humans, instead of first establishing the limits of this world’s food systems, are pushing the limits of worldwide sustainability until we run into a problem. Only until the train can no longer move forward will it actually stop, and then roll backwards as far as is necessary.
An analysis of the rhetorical devices employed by the author of a particular image (Population Growth Curve) *See Images
The basic concept of this image is simple; the further the train goes, the steeper the curve gets, making it so that eventually the train will be unable to keep going, or will slip significantly backwards down the curve. The text bubble, or the train’s thoughts, indicate the train is not even sure he can continue forward movement, and that progress is based only on the flimsy hope that it might be able to keep going. To contrast this uncertainty with the valuable load its tugging elicits a paradox. Logically and ethically, the train should stop moving. Its load is extremely valuable, being the basis for global sustainability, and therefore should never be put at risk of a crash. Yet the forward movement is incessant, and is insufficiently substantiated by the blind notion of ignorant hopefulness. From here we can see the symbolic importance of this image, and infer the quintessential attitude in which this image is grounded. The idea conveyed by the image in this manner essentially becomes “don’t play with fire.” With a supremely high chance of consequence the author would most likely say it is extremely naïve to push the world’s natural systems (which are extremely invaluable and irreplaceable resources for life sustenance) to their limits with great uncertainty of the results. The basic view is that we should not acquiesce to our own self-condemnation and should redress for our current behavior, now.
Implicitly, this message begs the question of how to actually address such a mentality as is satirized by the image. In turn, this brings up a concept of individual responsibility to others. Should individuals be held accountable for large-scale issues that they are only at fault for by a fraction? And should individuals thus be held responsible for actively minimizing their contribution to local issues that typically interconnect to form large-scale global issues? These are the types of questions and issues raised by such an image as this one.
Closing Statements:
Overall, we feel that human beings must find a balance between egocentricity and simplicity in an attempt to foster a natural environment. For example, the Grand Canyon Skywalk has disrupted the natural balance of the canyons and is a direct contrast to the natural aspect of the canyons, as the Skywalk is built out of unnatural metal. The issue of preservation of nature and maintenance of its purity is a global concern, and we would like to learn more about how people in Cairo help protect natural sites, such as the Nile, presumably an invaluable resource in Egypt. How is it that technological advances in Cairo have resulted in a step backward rather than a step forward? Also, to what extent can simplicity be attributed to as a solution to human egocentricity? Answers like these will help us relate our preservation and environment-protection views on a global scale!
Comments
A few years ago my family and I went road-tripping around North America; we used to do this every year. One year we passed by the Grand Canyon and it was indeed Grand! I was also amazed at its beauty; the simple lines running down the face of the valley and the division of the Earth. I did not see the Skywalk but I’m sure I would have felt the same about it and how it is taking away from the essence of nature. Sure, they tried to make it blend into the environment and I guess its good economically but why put something so unrealistic and complicated in this beautiful and simple setting?
I wish to grow up to become an interior decorator and at the moment I am helping my mother with the interior of our new house and the one thing that I always tell her is, “the simpler the better.” We are moving farther away from the Nile because housing has become so immensely dense nearer and nearer to the Nile that you would have to be incredibly lucky to find a parking space! The closer we get to the Nile, the more expensive housing becomes too and all the high-end hotels are located along the banks of the river. It is a beautiful river! The bright neon lights, noise and air pollution from clubs and cars and seeing rubbish floating in the river, however, are not beautiful. If you know Egypt, you would know are two biggest issues are traffic and litter, the problem is, it has spread to our Nile, our water and agriculture all because people want entertainment and so they build along side it’s banks.
Yesterday I was on my way to the Giza Pyramids and my parents were telling me how a long time ago the road to the pyramids was just one small lane paved by palm trees, how beautiful could that have been? Now, it is a bumpy three lane road paved by cafes, shops and houses. You would think that the pyramids should be sacred and in the middle of the dessert and the entrance was something grand, but it’s not and this boom in technology, population and architecture has just taken away from its absolutely breath-taking simplicity.
Posted by: Christine Haddad | April 12, 2009 11:26 AM
I very much agree with what you both have said about the world we are living in. I believe it is getting too complicated for our environment to handle. New technology is the main competition in our world today. People are striving to find new and more advanced technological ideas every day. After all, discovering something new and exciting for the world to buy will get you a very a high paid salary. For example Microsoft, Bill Gates is a millionaire for inventing such an extraordinary development. I don’t think you can find a home in a first world country that doesn’t have at least one computer. I’m not saying that computers are a bad thing, I mean it is the reason for out interactions right now, but it is complicating life. Now there is online dating, children are looking at stuff that they are not supposed to be looking at and people are getting robbed from credit card theft. After computers, came more and more advanced technologies. This causes factories to enlarge, causing more pollution. We are being harmed for the luxuries we use every day. Cars also have their advantages, how else would we get to places on time? But the consequences are much more severe than the advantages. We can find a way to manage without cars, computers, and etcetera, but how can we manage to live when the world we live in is being destroyed? We all know the dangers from our actions, but we continue on doing it, like you said. I myself know the major environmental issues that are happening, but still choose to live the same way. People must change, but I don’t know how.
Posted by: Nura | April 13, 2009 02:05 PM
Yes, the issue of preservation of the environment is a critical dilemma in today's society. Humans must learn to find a balance between conserving nature and advancing technologically. Both of your comments are amazing and very detailed, and than you so much for sharing your valuable opinions!
Posted by: Harjus Birk | April 15, 2009 09:22 PM
I agree with the advances that have witnessed in technology, new horizons in cyberspace have been opened. However, these blessings haven't completed all the time as their drawbacks outweigh their blessings. Humans exploit nature and technology for their self- interest not for the benefit for their society.
Nowadays, the recent increase in energy costs, driven by a surge in oil prices, has increased world-wide efforts on the exploitation of renewable/wind energy resources for environment-friendly sustainable development and to mitigate future energy challenges. Unfortunately, there are specific monopolies for oil, that's why there is inflation in prices and many countries can't import at least the sufficient quantities that they can purchase.The huge factories at 6th of October generate polluted gases to the environment as they can't save amount of their capital to make filters for reducing the amount of dangerous gases. These polluted gases lead to serious diseases in Egypt. Most of rich people consume luxuries products such as expensive cars, these ones lead to the production of more carbon dioxide in the air. These kinds of people are the reason in the crowded cars in Egypt and we have the traffic so noisy. In addition at the marine, the great boats at Egypt and especially at Aswan throw their rubbish at the Nile. This action is unbelievable as we drink from this water and the living organisms died from this pollution. With the advances in technology, the operation is complicated because at the beginning with the Sherman Act to prohibit the monopoly of 2000 Microsoft and thus it prohibits the other competitors to gain. The Internet has two major problems in business activities. These include the lack of security and the fear of a threat of electronic fraud. I think that mobiles have more serious effects than the Internet because they are easily used and carried. Anyone can easily take photos and record videos through his mobile. All these new techniques lead to disturbance to the Egyptian society. This is clearly shown when such photos displayed through Face book and all people can see.
However, their drawbacks are much more severe than their benefits. Can our government find solutions to make a balance between the usages of these methods in the right way?
Posted by: Christine Hanna | April 15, 2009 11:33 PM
Nura - I agree with your response whole-heartedly. Often, humans try to take a step forward through advancements, but this results in a step backwards through unintended consequences, such as the ones you mentioned. I think this is an extremely interesting parallel between what humans do and how they interpret what they have done. This results in the bigger question of how humans should go about striking the perfect balance between actions and consequences. Furthermore, Nura, you bring up a stimulating question because the first step in solving a problem is to recognize a dilemma exists, and I feel if this can be achieved globally, then perhaps we can change to better the environment.
Posted by: Harjus Birk | April 26, 2009 05:52 PM
Christine Hanna - Thank you for your interesting comment. I find your question to be extremely stimulating: "Can our government find solutions to make a balance between the usages of these methods in the right way?" I know that the government has taken some precautions to alleviate the effect of the consequences of actions outweighing their benefits. For example, recently a law was passed in California making it illegal for drivers to talk on their cell phones while they are driving, unless they have Bluetooth, which allows you to talk without using your hands. The goal is to lessen the amount of accidents. This is just an example of the government's attempt to create regulations which monitor the correct usages of methods, but as you can see it really depends on how us humans interpret these rules and follow them. I still see many people talking on their phone while driving, and thus it in essence does depend on human acceptance to these rules. Your question is a very good one, but I think there is no single correct answer: all the government can do is spread awareness about the issues at hand (pollution, etc.) but it is up to us to follow-through with these warnings in an attempt to actually change the world one step at a time.
Posted by: Harjus Birk | April 26, 2009 06:17 PM
Christine Haddad - I enjoyed reading your response, because you are correct: often less is more. This is one of the mottos humans must learn to comprehend, because it is human tendency to want to become more complex and fancier. However, this can only cause more issues to arise as well as more problems. I feel if humans do learn to understand to importance of preservation, we can positively affect the environment and nature today. One interesting thing to note: the Giza Pyramids are man-made. This is interesting because perhaps humans feel as if they "own" the pyramids and thus have to right to build shops and cafes around them, rather than maintainign their simplicity and natural beauty. What do you think about this - do you think the fact that the Giza Pyramids are man-made gives humans the right to construct around it? This is a crucial question. I can tell you will be a great interior director, as many peope value simplicity rather than being bombarded with many colors, stlyes, etc. when constructing a house. Thanks for you comment!
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