it's funny that beeta showed me this one particular post(as opposed to all the others on this page) since i've basically spent the past month or so thinking about the concept of self reflection and its necessary role for personal development. i, often times, feel as if "i don't really think...I just walk." this doesn't just apply to the motions we all go through on a daily basis but the way we interact with one another--do we really wish peace upon our brothers/sisters when we say salaam?--, the way we go about with our religious rituals--just b/c i "pray" 5x a day doesn't mean i have bilateral conversations with G-d on a regular basis...(s)he speaks to me continually throughout the day but do i really speak to him/her...ever??--, actions seem to be performed b/c they are required by social/personal constraints that have been placed on us not because they are consciously CHOSEN to be performed.
as a muslim there is duty in self reflecting. the beauty of ramadaan doesn't just come from fasting/spending time with your family, it also comes from serious self reflection and deep introspection. a true believer is said to be one that is continuously conscious of their actions and ever aware of what they are doing/committing/acting, etc however, how many actually stand by this principle and how many of us enact it??
“Hey. Could we do that again? I know we haven’t met, but I don’t want to be an ant, you know? I mean, it’s like we go through life with our antennas bouncing off one another, continuously on ant auto-pilot with nothing really human required of us. Stop. Go. Walk here. Drive there. All action basically for survival. All communication simply to keep this ant colony buzzing along in an efficient polite manner. “Here’s your change.” “Paper or plastic?” “Credit or debit?” “You want ketchup with that?” I don’t want a straw, I want real human moments. I want to see you. I want you to see me. I don’t want to give that up. I don’t want to be an ant, you know?”
Waking Life
Does this make Islam, or I suppose, Muslims....existentialists?
well obviously this artist wanted to make a juxtaposition in a very heavy handed way.
Socrates versus Paris Hilton. A search for knowledge versus a lack of knowledge.
Got it. Not much brain work is needed. For me, this art is on the cusp of good art.
good (modern) art=represents/depicts/addresses/invokes the human condition. Mankind's struggle of understanding is done mostly in a state of confusion of what True Reality is. There is a constant search for the concept of Truth*
Islam=brings guidance and understanding of the human condition and True Reality. Mankind's struggle for understanding still persists. However, an acceptance of Islam is an acceptance of being active in that struggle in consciousness of the sure Reality. (ie. We aren't Believers, but we are constantly struggling to submit)
thus, good art always tugs at Islam. Good art always creates a discussion about the human condition, and thus will always relate to Islam in the sense of its struggle for understanding.
As I quote, "If art matters at all, it will shed light on something more than itself...the essential message is that we live in ignorance and pain, but great and healing knowledge exists; that we skeep and could awaken; that we experience ourselves as isolated but could discover that we are participants in a large and grandly meaningful whole. The message suggests that suffering and death are included and eventually transcended within the greater whole which preserves us and however impersonally wishes us well" Roger Lipsey
it's funny that beeta showed me this one particular post(as opposed to all the others on this page) since i've basically spent the past month or so thinking about the concept of self reflection and its necessary role for personal development. i, often times, feel as if "i don't really think...I just walk." this doesn't just apply to the motions we all go through on a daily basis but the way we interact with one another--do we really wish peace upon our brothers/sisters when we say salaam?--, the way we go about with our religious rituals--just b/c i "pray" 5x a day doesn't mean i have bilateral conversations with G-d on a regular basis...(s)he speaks to me continually throughout the day but do i really speak to him/her...ever??--, actions seem to be performed b/c they are required by social/personal constraints that have been placed on us not because they are consciously CHOSEN to be performed.
ReplyDeleteas a muslim there is duty in self reflecting. the beauty of ramadaan doesn't just come from fasting/spending time with your family, it also comes from serious self reflection and deep introspection. a true believer is said to be one that is continuously conscious of their actions and ever aware of what they are doing/committing/acting, etc however, how many actually stand by this principle and how many of us enact it??
ReplyDelete“Hey. Could we do that again? I know we haven’t met, but I don’t want to be an ant, you know? I mean, it’s like we go through life with our antennas bouncing off one another, continuously on ant auto-pilot with nothing really human required of us. Stop. Go. Walk here. Drive there. All action basically for survival. All communication simply to keep this ant colony buzzing along in an efficient polite manner. “Here’s your change.” “Paper or plastic?” “Credit or debit?” “You want ketchup with that?” I don’t want a straw, I want real human moments. I want to see you. I want you to see me. I don’t want to give that up. I don’t want to be an ant, you know?”
ReplyDeleteWaking Life
Does this make Islam, or I suppose, Muslims....existentialists?
well obviously this artist wanted to make a juxtaposition in a very heavy handed way.
ReplyDeleteSocrates versus Paris Hilton.
A search for knowledge versus a lack of knowledge.
Got it. Not much brain work is needed.
For me, this art is on the cusp of good art.
good (modern) art=represents/depicts/addresses/invokes the human condition. Mankind's struggle of understanding is done mostly in a state of confusion of what True Reality is. There is a constant search for the concept of Truth*
Islam=brings guidance and understanding of the human condition and True Reality. Mankind's struggle for understanding still persists. However, an acceptance of Islam is an acceptance of being active in that struggle in consciousness of the sure Reality. (ie. We aren't Believers, but we are constantly struggling to submit)
thus, good art always tugs at Islam. Good art always creates a discussion about the human condition, and thus will always relate to Islam in the sense of its struggle for understanding.
As I quote, "If art matters at all, it will shed light on something more than itself...the essential message is that we live in ignorance and pain, but great and healing knowledge exists; that we skeep and could awaken; that we experience ourselves as isolated but could discover that we are participants in a large and grandly meaningful whole. The message suggests that suffering and death are included and eventually transcended within the greater whole which preserves us and however impersonally wishes us well" Roger Lipsey
sleep** not skeep
ReplyDelete