Ernest Becker wrote about the “human animal” needing to create illusions in order to deal with the knowledge of our impending death. What does that mean? It means that out of all the life on this planet, humans are the only creatures that KNOW we’re going to die. That creates a huge psychological burden to bear.
Because we have this “memento mori” knowledge and it forces us to create what Becker calls “culture”. That’s the illusion of meaning and significance. We feed off of our “culture”. It’s external, not internal. We use it for our self-esteem. Self-esteem is a state of feeling like our lives have meaning and that we have significance. We’re both in awe of life and terrified of it as well.
If you deep dive, you can figure this out. I know these theories are difficult to wrap your head around, but they are incredibly powerful when you do.
Everything around us has been created as a type of distraction or illusion to keep our death anxiety at bay. All human activity is driven by death anxiety. Or, a better way to say it is, that all human activity is in service of keeping our death anxiety at bay. We all participate, no one is without this burden.
Without these illusions, we would be curled up in the corner, unable to function. Completely paralyzed from facing the reality of our existence. It is terrifying. To think that we are simply frail, weak animals that will decay, die, and be forgotten seems unbearable. Arthur Rimbaud said, “The only unbearable thing is that nothing is unbearable.” I think he was fully aware of our human condition.
The Great Mullein plant with the east morning light - September 5, 2022. Whole Plate wet collodion negative.
The Great Mullein plant going into flower - September 5, 2022. Whole Plate wet collodion negative. This is inverted - not printed. Will print these tomorrow.
The Great Mullein plant going into flower - September 5, 2022. Whole Plate wet collodion negative.
Calotype (paper negative) - Three Aspens - inverted.
Calotype (paper negative) - Three Aspens - inverted. I used Crob ‘Art paper to make this negative, I may try to print it on the same paper.