The spectacle of the whole thing was a little more than I could handle. I found myself uncomfortable with the seriousness people placed on these floats which, although beautiful, were just made of wood and metal. I suppose this reaction came from growing up in a very protestant part of the US that takes pride in its neglect or disgust for ‘the image.’ A place where backyards look like the western front and people wear sweatpants to work. While the processions were weird and new to me, I like this use of imagery. It’s very powerful. Sometimes, when I’m on a culture shock low, I think that Spaniards are too into the image, focusing on consumer goods and fashion instead of more important things like sincere conversations with friends and asking big questions. BUT, I also wish people wouldn’t be afraid of images. They can be used for good things. I guess the power of images is as two-sided as anything.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy; I think humans worship images for the same reasons that they despise them; they are powerful, fleeting and mysterious. The Universe is beyond the grasp of humans and images that strike a primeval, animalistic chord (scaring or pleasing us) give us wonder and remind us of that.
3 comments:
Ross,
Somehow the seriousness and opulance of the floats contrasted with all those legs sticking out with black sneakers made me laugh.
Celebrate the absurd! And keep up the insightful and intelligent blog postings!
Dear Ross,
I read a very interesting book lately called Christian Moderns that talks exactly about the Protestant effort to overcome "images" or fetishes of traditional religions and Catholicism, and create a more direct relationship with divinity. And how this is part of what defines modernity. According to the author. And of course there is always Marx who talks about the way that objects get fetishized and come to stand in for human relationships. But he actually sees this as something new, part of capitalism. So maybe you are also seeing a unique combination of old and new "images" in spain. I am sorry, this is just the academic in me coming through, I can hardly help it. But you know, while the objects are just wood and candles, there is something about the community created around the object that is much more substantial. You are right though, that if we lose sight of objects as tools and not ends in their own right, we become alienated and dis-empowered.
I can't wait to come to Spain after reading your blog. I especially like your discussion of the "Red Fort" and changing names. I hope I can visit it.
Keep writing!
Dear Hannah,
Of course there is cultural significance to the ceremony. That’s why it’s still around. however, what I saw was a bit over the top. People were touching the floats and saying prayers and freaking out. I thought it was a little too literal. The images mean something and are important, that’s what I was trying to say with this blog, but they ARE just images.
The tradition of the whole thing is what I like but I think its better just to think about the image and what it means to you. I don’t think touching a float brings you any closer to divinity than just thinking and talking about divinity (but, as always, i can only talk for myself!)
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