Rare Old Photos of Japan
Looking back through time photographs help us see the old world anew. Old photos of Japan aid in building the legendary mystique of the land of the Rising Sun. This post is dedicated specifically to old photos of Japan from the late Meiji Era (from about 1900-1912). During this time great changes occurred throughout Japan. The shogunate stepped down, a young prince was lifted to the realms of emperor, and a grand shift of public and private duty occurred. A new Japan was being birthed into the modern world; armed with the Enlightenment of new ideas and technologies and the horror of how to utilize them against other humans. Some of these schisms between the old and the new can be seen in the following old photos of Japan. If you like this consider reading more about Japan and the Edo period HERE. We hope you enjoy!
Swords, Guns, and Samurai! Oh My!
At the earliest stages of the Meiji Period token of change, including the pistol seen above, became more and more present in photography.
Entertaining the Change
Many elements of Japanese culture remained true to their heritage such as Kabuki. Others, including the stage arts, began incorporating elements from outside cultures to wow their audiences.
The Asahi Beer company is still around today. Im fact it has about a 34% share of the domestic market. The photo above was in honor of opening a new store in the year Meiji 32.
Youthful Change
Marine based fashion was all the rage midway through the Meiji era. The photo above was taken during the Russo-Japanese War. As the countries waged war over the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria life at home was also changing.
Women’s education changed as well. In this new era lessons were 28 hours per work. Schools began to emphasize gymnastics and martial arts education.
Choo Choo
Trains began to play an ever more important role in modernizing Japan. The train above was made and imported from Germany.
From Backwoods to Global Power
Emperor Meiji reigned for just shy of 45 years. Japan’s presence on the global stage shifted forever during his time as emperor.
Ready for Battle
War was a major part of the imperial dreams of Meiji Era Japan. Locals from Ryukyu Kingdom (modern Okinawa), to Taiwan, to China, to Korea all faced the wrath of the imperial machine. Often those facing the war machine built by Japan were technologically at a loss. The Taiwanese soldiers [last picture below] fought with swords and bamboo against Japanese artillery and rifles.
The war machine built by Japan began to further build its manpower through the conscription of all national soldiers in 1897.
Working in the coal mines
Although the world around them was undergoing drastic changes, the common folks still had to do the dirty work of the previous centuries.
Keep on Learning
Thanks for taking the time to check out these old photos of Japan. If you want to see and learn more cool stuff check out our ARTICLES or PODCAST. Thanks for stopping by! Onward!
Best Humanities Memes Vol. 2
With great memes comes great responsibility to share them. We have taken this message to heart and spent countless hours exploring the deepest corners of the web, cataloguing intriguing memes from coast to coast-sea to shinging sea- to bring you the very best humanities memes we could place our delicately manicured hands on. Credit has been given to those whom sources could be found. If you created one of these glorious humanities memes and wish to be credited shoot us an email and it will be taken care of. Now it’s finally time for volume 2 of our best humanities memes, sit back, tune in, and party on! If you missed it you might want to head on over to the best humanities memes vol. 1! To start things off we will begin with a few history memes:
History Humanities Memes
Philosophy memes
It is much more difficult to find hilarious philosophy memes than we initially thought. So tucked into the following sections are a few randoms that beg you to chuckle, just a little, in-between the thought provoking exigences of navel gazers.
Other Memes
Can you see us… on a regular basis?
Thanks for checking out the best humanities memes volume 2! (Did you check out volume 1?) If you thoroughly enjoyed this content check out our ARTICLES, PODCAST, YouTube And FACEBOOK (Literally a meme page at this point) all dedicated to spreading the humanities. Feel free to send us your own favorite memes and we will credit you in the next post! Thanks for stopping by! ONWARD!
Best Humanities Memes Vol. I
HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND just plain FUNNY
The Best Humanities Memes … probably not the first thing you thought you would come across when you awoke this morning. Internet memes have become an ambient part of our daily lives. From cats doing silly things to Sarcastic Wonka sharing irony to Escobar displaying how lonely we feel as we wait for Covid-19 to end. The humanities, particularly history and philosophy, are frought with fantastic examples of how internet memes can make us giggle, think, and rethink our lives and the ideas that help frame them. This is the best of humanities memes from across the web. You will notice those taken from sites such as reddit still have their attribution. Though others, with perhaps more devious or mysterious roots, remain unattributed. If you know the origin of the meme… let us know and we will be sure to attribute it to a page, person, or government agency. If you have any humanities memes to share with us we can spotlight them on our FACEBOOK page! Yo! Don’t forget to check out Volume 2 of the best of Humanities Memes! Just shoot us a message and we will be sure to attribute you as the contributor (if you want). Enjoy and feel free to share with your humanities loving friends!
History memes
Lets start off our jaunt through the humanities memes with a few glimpses at history through the lens of the modern meme. This is by far our longest category for volume one. Be sure to share your favorites and to attribute the original meme smith (not us!) if its apparent.
Philosophy Memes
Thinking about thinking. Philosophy is a dense act that a lot of folks find themselves proclaiming to partake in. These humanities memes are sure to get you thinking and perhaps even breathing through your nose (because it is weird to laugh while staring at a screen by yourself, right?) Be sure to keep an eye out for humanities memes volume II highlighting philosophy memes. Enjoy!
Funny miscellaneous Humanities memes
The rest posted here are an odd assortment of various facets of the humanities (psychology, mythology, literary theory, etc.). Enjoy!
Thanks for checking out Volume I of the best Humanities memes. Feel free to check out VOLUME ” of the best Humanities memes. A special thanks for all the meme smiths out there putting in their time and effort for thought provoking and charming memes for us to enjoy! If you liked this check out our ARTICLES, PODCAST, or YouTube channel based on various facets of the Humanities. Don’t forget to check us out on FACEBOOK and to share this page! Onward!
A Mountain of Bison Skulls
Imagine if you will, bison Skulls piled as high as a two story building. And in your mind a never endly supply of enormous beasts filling stomachs and helping fuel the modern world. For a time bison and bison skulls and bones did both. Bison were once one of the most prominent animals spread across North America. In the opening years of the 1800s 60 million bison were said to have roamed across the vast continent. Their range was from Northern Mexico to the center of Alaska. By the close of the 19th century settlers had killed an estimated 50 million of them; leaving behind mountains of Bison Skulls. At the lowest point the bison’s numbers had dwindled to about 600 (total). Today you would be hard pressed to see any bison where once they were plentiful. Over the course of 100 years the face of North America changed drastically. Here are a few photos displaying the carnage born by bison during that time starting with a mountain of bison skulls:
At one time bison skulls littered the plains. Next time you find yourself traversing across the USA imagine the world a mere two hundred years ago. And feel free to let out a bison yawp. If you liked this content check out more from the PLUTARCH PROJECT ! If you’d like to learn more about Bison click HERE or Here. or HERE
We don’t mind if you linger around a bit. We focus on various issues of the humanities: from philosophy to history and a few stops in-between. Check out our PODCASTS and ARTICLES.for more content!
Epictetus:Feeling Foolish
Learning new skills can be tough. It’s a roller coaster of emotions. The highs that come with reaching the smaller goals along the way are often countered by the lows of the countless defeats between them. It is during one of these periods of defeat that people often give up on their new aspirations. They decide looking, or perhaps closer to reality, feeling foolish outweighs how they think they will feel after acquiring the skill. Whether its breaking your own personal record at the gym, learning a new language, or picking up a new hobby, opportunities to progress and grow as a human are limitless. And, so are the opportunities for failure. So how should we frame progress when shrouded in the shadows of doubt and worry? Today we will be building off of the last episode focused on Marcus Aurelius, The Captain of Your Own Ship and looking at one of The Golden Sayings of Epictetus (CLVIII). We hope you enjoy today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe and share!
Howdy and welcome back to The Plutarch Project Podcast. this is episode 2 of our short form podcasts, “resonare illustrationis”-or echoes of illumination a brief illuminating look at a piece of literature, history, or philosophy to fill the gaps between our longer form podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and share if you find yourself picking up what we are putting down!
Epictetus was a stoic philosopher. Unlike last episode philosopher, the noble born emperor Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus was born a slave in 50 AD in what is now modern day Turkey. As he grew, his owner, a secretary under the Emperor Nero, allowed him to study philosophy. This lucky break made his world-and by extension our own- much richer than it could have been. He was freed sometime after the death of Nero and began teaching philosophy in Rome. In 93 AD all philosophers were banned from Rome and Epictetus set up shop in Greece with his own philosophical school. He lived until 135 AD and all of his works have been passed down to us by his most famous pupil, Arrian of nicomedia.
There’s quite a bit to his philosophy, but for our purposes here today it might be best to categorize him with Seneca and Marcus Aurelius in that philosophy is not some abstract field of study, but rather a way of living life.
If you can recall last episode, Marcus Aurelius believed all things in the human world to be mere opinion: love, anger, wealth, power and so on. The only thing that can aid us in this battle of opinion is to take control of our own mind and “let go” of our own opinions. Epictetus held a similar belief. His writings focus on people knowing, examining and crafting their own actions as acts of discipline and self-control. The reason being that all externalities are simply out of one’s control, the only thing you can have agency over is yourself. With this we can focus on today’s quotation:
It reads,
“If thou wouldst make progress, be content to seem foolish and void of understanding with respect to outward things. Care not to be thought to know anything. If any should make account of thee, distrust thyself.”
It’s probable that Epictetus was talking about grander ideas than picking up the guitar with the goal of playing like Jimi Hendrix in mind. But, for our purposes in the contemporary world we can apply these same words to microscopic goals adding to our macroscopic experience. The thing that really stands out at first is the line, “Be content to seem foolish.” There aren’t too many cats out there that would prefer to seem foolish, especially when aiming to master something. Let’s face it. Unless you’re a prodigy or just happen to have some natural advantage you are probably going to be rather terrible at something the first time you try it. Reflect back on your life, how many things have you given up on because at first they seemed insurmountable after the first attempt? How many rockstar dreams have been smashed by the ironclad hammer of reality? Perhaps its our expectations, or our opinions-to borrow from Marcus Aurelius- of how progress should be that hinder our actual abilities to progress. This is where the next part of Epictetus’ saying comes into play.
He writes, “void of understanding of outside things.” One of the greatest advantages of learning a new skill is being brutally aware of how much we don’t know. It’s great to know what is possible. Seeing Hendrix riff the national anthem, viewing Michael Jordan hit the game winning shot in the championship game, or reading about ultra-marathon runners can be motivating. But, without at least theoretical knowledge of the gap between a newbie and these people who have excelled at the highest levels the newbie is in for a world of hurt.
It’s like training to climb Mount Everest by p stepping up and down off of your sofa; you’re gonna have a bad time when you arrive at the base of the mountain. Recognizing that you are “void of understanding” and letting the anxiety of not knowing flow over you can allow your curiosity and drive to sprout and bloom as progress is made one step at a time. Unfortunately those who don’t recognize their limited understanding are subject to things like the Dunning-Krugger Effect: A cognitive bias where people overestimate their ability because they can objectively view it.
Even world renowned experts have limitations. You can be the foremost expert in the world on something and still there will always be more to be obtained. This is where Epictetus’ notes, “Care not to be thought to know anything.” Now, he isn’t saying forget how to use a spoon and forget wearing pants, although that sounds like it could make for an interesting time. He is saying don’t be content to flaunt your knowledge; there’s always more out there and if not now, then later someone else will have a greater depth of knowledge. There’s no reason to peacock, especially if your understanding of something resides only within the basics. Heck, if experts are free to express that they don’t know it all why shouldn’t a beginner?
Finally Epictetus lets loose with the final line, “If any should make account of thee, distrust thyself.” Progress is great. And it feels great to be praised. Rarely will you see anyone truly praising an expert. I once had a mentor tell me praise is for kids and beginners, when people stop praising you and begin treating you like an expert that’s when you are really onto the path of hard earned progress. A simple example can be found in many people’s lives. At one time you were praised for being able to use a spoon by yourself. How many people are praising you now for the same action? Life is full of examples like this and it’s best to reflect on your own past experiences if you are feeling unsure of your progress in a given activity.
A checkpoint of motivation could be to keep pushing to this point, and once this point is reached, pat yourself on the back for a quick minute, and then keep on working toward the next goal in your idea of progress. It’s up to you to let go of outside opinions, to focus your drive and determination toward something greater, and to keep progressing through the foolishness, through the amatuer stage, up until you are satisfied, truly satisfied, with your level of attainment. So for now, be okay with feeling foolish, be okay with not progressing at lightning speed, be careful of too much praise, and focus on the things you can control your opinion and your actions. Thanks for listening and as always… Onward!
Marcus Aurelius: The Captain of your own ship
Howdy and welcome back to The Plutarch Project Podcast. this is episode 3 of our short form podcasts, “resonare illustrationis”-or echoes of illumination a brief illuminating look at a piece of literature, history, or philosophy to fill the gaps between our longer form podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and share if you find yourself picking up what we are putting down!
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus made his grand appearance into the world on April 26th 124 C.E.. He was born with the name Marcus Annius Verus. His lineage was said to date back to Numa Pompilius the legendary second king of Rome. A bold claim that linked their family with many of the cultural and religious institutions of the time. Marcus Aurilius would come to be known as a Statesman, Philosopher, and perhaps most notably and importantly a character in the 2000 Ridley Scott film “Gladiator.” Actually, he was the last of the [quote]5 good emperors” of Rome. Today’s podcast comes from one of his many meditations.
His meditation reads as follows: “Remember that all is but opinion, and all opinion depends of the mind. Take thine opinion away, and then as a ship that hath stricken in within the arms and mouth of the harbor, a present calm, all things safe and steady: a bay, not capable of any storms and tempests: as the poet hath it” (loc. 6065)
“All is opinion” Now that’s a bold statement Mr. Emperor! Let’s think about this for a brief moment. He couldn’t possibly mean everything… could he? If he were considering the natural world he probably wouldn’t extend it to all of the natural phenomenon of the world. But, in the dealings of humans and the world we have created as a species… why not? Is human existence-the world we reside in-is it NOT a subjective experience? Perhaps you are not convinced… I don’t blame you, but with a bit of meditation of your own you too will come to the same conclusion.
Let’s start with the most objective tools we have… our senses. We can use our sight and say “The sky is Blue today!” But, is what is blue to you blue to other people? Is it the same shade of blue? Are the cones and rods in your eyes firing away painting the same image inside your mind as well as others? Or is there a chance that although it is similar… they aren’t exact copies… does that mean that our realities are the same? Or are they similar? This doesn’t even take into account those who are colorblind… or even blind. This same idea can be extended to all of our sense: tastes, touches, the sweet caress of my voice in your earholes… all are packaged products produced by the mushy computer trapped inside our skulls.
Marcus Aurelius noted this phenomenon in the quote above and noted the power of this realization. It’s not the world that shapes how we view it… It’s us (as individuals and as a species) who shape our own view of the world. We are all doing it all the time, collectively and individually. But, as we have already noticed there is a gap between individuals.
Science Fiction has found its way around this problem in a myriad of ways. One of the most known is from Star Trek in which Spock, and other Vulcans, can mind meld– or join their mind with anothers– experiencing the world through someone else’s experiences. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for some of you filthy rascals, we can’t do that. So we will never REALLY know what it is like to be someone else. Chew on that for a second…
We are indeed like the lonely boat in Aurelius’ metaphor. One ship among a fleet of billions. All similar, but experiencing human life from different vantage points.
It’s the solitary nature of the mind that when inspected disassembles the world we think we know into the phantasmagoric things they really are… and all that is left is the flickering opinions we conjure about them.
One thing we can be certain about it that the more human the idea… the more opinionated it becomes. The myths we have built as a species… myths like love, hate, envy, greed and even those further in the realm of abstraction such as Freedom are mere opinions of collected thought passed on throughout time… imperfect copies of ideas floating down the generations into the realm of the future.
So if you find your own mind ship tossing and turning… Remember you are in control of the ship, take a moment, breath, let go of the world of opinions and enter the safe harbor of your own creation.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Thanks for listening, and as always, onward!
If you enjoyed this podcast share, like, subscribe, dance, compose an ode for the ages, write down some amatuer philosophy and share it with the world at large… or something like that. Don’t forget to check out the transcripts for extra useful links! Good day!
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Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya
The scent of diesel and the thunderous cacophony of warfare enshrouded the battlefield near Leningrad in January of 1944. The Leningrad-Novgorod offensive had begun and the fire of cannons, small arms, and mortars were the guiding lights of the bloody slaughter it would become. Today’s story ends here on the 17th of January 1944. An unlikely conclusion for an unlikely story about a unique woman who went against the grain of her time and made a mark on one of the world’s greatest armed conflicts. Her name was Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya (Мария Васильевна Октябрьская). As the battle raged around her an explosive knocked the track off of her tank, “Fighting Girlfriend.” Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya and members of her tank team jumped out of the tank and sprang into action. Hustling to and fro within the roar of warfare and the dazzling lights of shots fired in hate they frantically worked to repair their tank’s track. No doubt a sigh of relief flooded over Mariya as stood next to the completed project. Her comrades’ cover fire erupting mere feet away applauding their effort only interrupted by the enemy’s angry retorts. Unbeknownst to her death was already raining down from the sky. The mortar shell of an enemy collided with the scorched earth nearby-hurtling shrapnel into her head-leaving her unconscious.
Life before War
Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya’s story begins years before in the then sleepy Crimean Peninsula. Mariya was one of ten children living the life of rural peasants of the soon to be Soviet Union. The English and Russian sources differ on her exact date of birth, placing it sometime between 1902 and 1905. There is little known about her early years other than she completed the equivalent of high school and post high school work. In the early 1920s she concluded schooling and began first working at a cannery in Simferopol. Later as a telephone operator at a city telephone exchange. Life seemed to be moving forward at a leisurely pace for Mariya. In 1925 she found love in the form of a handsome calvary school cadet, Ilya Fedotovich Ryadnenko.
The Arts of Love and War
Soon after meeting they got married and took the family name of Oktyabrsky (Note: that the name will change slightly depending on the husband or wife variant of the Russian language). The life of Mariya began the fast track toward becoming a legendary figure of the Soviet Union. After their wedding they were stationed in several different settlements of Ukraine. As her husband trained and became more adept at his warrior craft Mariya became active in women’s councils and volunteer work. Among other wives of the command staff she was envied for her abilities in needlework, fashion, and homemaking. Although this was impressive Mariya also took a keen interest into the workings of her husband’s life. She graduated from medical care courses, learned the basics of driving a tank and mastered machine gun shooting. Overall she became one bad ass woman. Mariya was quoted as stating:
“Marry a serviceman, and you serve in the army: an officer’s wife is not only a proud woman, but also a responsible title.”
In 1940 they joined the USSR and her husband became the commissar of the 134th howitzer artillery regiment. It was a relatively peaceful time until the outbreak of war between the USSR and Nazi Germany. The day after the declaration of war ( June 23, 1941) , MV Oktyabrskaya, along with her sister and other members of the families of USSR officers, were evacuated to Siberia. Hoping to do her part to help she soon became a telephone operator once again aiding an artillery school that had recently been evacuated from Leningrad. During this time her husband fought valiantly in Kyiv (formerly read as Kiev). As the fading scent of summer lingered before the long, cold, dark, winter Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya received word that her husband had died in battle. The death notification read as follows:
“regimental commissar Ilya Fedotovich Oktyabrsky died the death of the brave on August 9, 1941 in one of the battles in Ukraine. The commissar I.F. Oktyabrsky, commissar of the 206th Infantry Division, was hit by a machine gun burst, leading his men to attack in one of the battles near Kiev”
Upon receipt of the notification Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya stormed into the enlistment office and demanded to be sent to the front (perhaps as a nurse). Time and time again she was turned down due to her age (36 years old) and past illness (tuberculosis). It was here at this moment-when most people would simply throw in the towel-that she derived a plan that would separate her from the rest of the pack and solidify her position as a USSR hero.
Getting “Fighting Girlfriend”
Another way to support the war effort was through donation. Although adhering to the principles of communism there was still a little money, particularly for officers in the military, in circulation. Mariya devised a plan to sell all of her belongings and make and sell her needlework creations to earn 50,000 rubles; the exact cost of a T-34 tank. After several months Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya had saved up enough to telegram the Kremlin with the following message:
Dear Joseph [Stalin]! In the battles for the homeland, my husband died – the regimental commissar Oktyabrsky Ilya Fedotovich. For his death, for the death of all Soviet people tortured by fascist barbarians, I want to take revenge on the fascist dogs, for which I have contributed all my personal savings to the state bank for the building a tank – 50,000 rubles. I ask you to call the tank “Fighting Girlfriend” and send me to the front as the driver of this tank. I have a specialty as a driver, I have a good command of machine guns, and I am an [excellent] shooter. I send you warm greetings and wish you long, long years to fear the enemies and the glory of our country.
Oktyabrskaya Maria Vasilievna
After some debate the Defense Department, seeing the tenacity and public relations opportunity, gave in and allowed Mariya’s plan to evolve into a reality. She was sent to a five month tank training school at the Omsk Tank School. Most new tank drivers were quickly trained and sent to the front. This may be due to the propaganda opportunities she offered to the USSR. In September of 1943 she finished training and became the country’s first female tank driver and mechanic; a magnificent feat in and of itself. In October, a month later, she was sent to the front with her new tank crew: commander junior lieutenant Pyotr Chebotko, tower gunner sergeant Gennady Yasko, and gunner-gunner Mikhail Galkin. Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya was given her new tank and across its side they painted “Боевая подруга” [Fighting Girlfriend]. A mere month later she was sent to the Eastern Front and one step closer to the legend she would become.
Fighting on the Front
On October 21, 1943 in the city of Smolensk “Fighting Girlfriend” joined the fray in some particularly intense fighting. Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya drove her tank through the battlefield destroying Nazi machine-gun nests, artillery guns, and foot soldiers. During the fighting her tank was hammered by gunfire. Mariya knew they would be sitting ducks without a quick fix. Going against orders she jumped out of her tank and fixed a broken hydraulic system, returned to the pilots seat and kept kicking ass. For her heroic actions she was promoted to sergeant and her legend grew bigger within the USSR.
The next notable battle took place in the village of Novoye Selo on November 18, 1943. During the fighting Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya and her tank broke through the enemies defenses destroying artillery and massacring nearly 50 soldiers. Artillery and small arms fire disabled her tank and although they were immobile they continued fighting. Mariya and members of her tank crew were wounded. For two days they repelled one enemy attack after another. Finally they were evacuated and sent to receive medical help. Afterward the tank battalions commander praised their efforts stating, “Fight like the tankers of the ‘fighting girlfriend’ fight. Only today, the crew of a glorious machine destroyed a platoon of Nazi bandits.”
In a letter to her sister she wrote:
“I’ve had my baptism by fire. I beat the bastards. Sometimes I’m so angry I can’t even breathe.”
The Final Showdown
The thunderous cacophony of warfare enshrouded the battlefield near Leningrad in January of 1944. The Leningrad-Novgorod offensive had begun and the fire of cannons, small arms, and mortars were the guiding lights of the bloody slaughter it would become. Today’s story ends here on the 17th of January 1944. As she stood successful in her endeavor death was already raining down from the sky. The mortar shell of an enemy collided with the earth nearby hurtling shrapnel into her head, leaving her unconscious. After the battle she was sent to a Soviet hospital in a coma. Two months later she died on March 15, 1944. After her death she was hailed as a hero of the Soviet Union and was buried in one of the most sacred cemeteries of the USSR.
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Sources:
Mariya Oktyabrskaya
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariya_Oktyabrskaya
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Октябрьская,МарияВасильевна
Artist of the day #1 Eugene von Guerard
Johann Joseph Eugene von Guérard
We begin our artist of the day posts with Johann Joseph Eugene von Guérard (17 November 1811 – 17 April 1901). What a long name, right? Don’t worry he is more commonly referenced as Eugene von Guerard. He is most widely known for his incredible scenic paintings that include intricate details that have even shown some scientific worth. The reason I like this cat is that he started off under the tutelage of his father, a painter as well.
Though his father was “a painter of miniatures at the court of Emperor Francis I of Austria” (wikiart). Johann would gain valuable insights into painting, traveling, and more than likely life in general from this early period with his father. I also found it interesting that he went to Australia to become a gold miner and ended up becoming one of the most renowned landscape artists of his time. It goes to show you just never know what path life will take.
elevated” subject matter in the style of a new “truthful”‘ realism.
He would go on to have more formal studies as well. One of the most impressionable institutions and people he would meet came from Germany. According to Wikiart, “During his studies at the Düsseldorf Academy he absorbed the new criterion for German art promoted by his landscape lecturer Johann Wilhelm Schirmer under the directorship of ex-Nazaren member Wilhelm von Schadow: to present “elevated” subject matter in the style of a new “truthful”‘ realism.” You can see this truthful realism in his works, particularly those from his time in Australia and New Zealand. His work magically transports us back to the past– a jump into his world– a place to be part of the nature he immortalized and a chance to feel the crisp air he felt as he painted these works.
From wide open spaces to rural Australian countryside and life Eugene von Guerard is sure to tantalize your imagination for an age that is now only a brief chapter in the history of mankind.
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Learn more about this artist and see more of their work on Wikiart and/or Wikipedia (all information and art is public domain available from the aforementioned sources)
Emerson and the Wave
Emerson and the Wave Transcript
Emerson and the Wave: Howdy and welcome back to The Plutarch Project Podcast. this is episode 2 of our short form podcasts, “resonare illustrationis”-or echoes of illumination a brief illuminating look at a piece of literature, history, or philosophy to fill the gaps between our longer form podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and share if you find yourself picking up what we are putting down!
Today we will be focusing on a short piece by Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American Essayist, poet, lecturer, and leader of the transcendental movement in the 19th century. Now, if you think you are a good writer, check this cat’s work out. The way he bends the English language to his poetic will sends shivers down my spine and knocks my socks right off. We will only get a short taste of it here today, but seriously, this guy is nothing short of amazing. Aaaand a lot of his work can be found online for free… take a look at our transcripts for a few links with his work and bio to get started.
Today’s excerpt can be found in one of his most popular essays, “Self-Reliance.” Before we jump into his words let’s take a second to consider ourselves and the role we play in the larger systems of human cooperation. Where do we reside? what laws and ideas are considered “common sense”? What shared identity do we have to those who also reside within a common system? Where do these ideas come from? And most importantly, are we forging our own path or are we walking upon the ground tread upon and flattened for us by those who came before?
Let’s put those questions on the backburner for a spell and jump into Emerson’s words. Near the end of the essay Emerson notes that, [quote]
Society is a wave. The wave moves onward, but the water of which it is composed does not. The same particle does not rise from the valley to the ridge. Its unity is only phenomenal. The persons who make up a nation to-day, next year die, and their experience with them. (pg.75)
People often see society as some “other” entity. They will say things such as, “It’s society’s fault” or “It’s just part of who we, or they, are.” But, in fact society is literally all of us. A jigsaw puzzle is composed of pieces and we, the people, compose the society. Some of us are a bit more rounded or jagged than others, but when put in the proper place the picture becomes clear. Although we are part of this larger picture everything, and I mean everything, is in a constant flux. We are the wave, but the individuals in society, the particles in Emerson’s words, are constantly moving about; coming and going regardless, and often unaware, of the waves path.
We, in the post-enlightenment era, are constantly building upon those who laid the path before us. Although this time is ours, it’s not too long before we meet the reaper and are replaced by those trying to find their own way in this wavy beautiful mess of existence. They too will find themselves dependent upon those who laid the seeds of the succulent fruit that they will enjoy. Since we are all in the same situation it is no great leap to see that our thoughts turn not toward the wave, and how we can influence it, but rather toward our fellow citizens and what they do or don’t have.
Emerson and the Wave continues,
Men have looked away from themselves and at things so long, that they have come to esteem the religious, the learned, and civil institutions as guards of property, and they depreciate assaults on these, because they feel them to be assaults on property. They measure their esteem of each other by what each has, and not by what each is. (pg.75)
Keeping up with the Jones’ or Kardashian’s for any younger folks listening out there, relying on the MAN or Big Brother to take care of you and look out for you, relying on religion for hope or institutions for guidance has lead society to forget that we are just talking animals trying to make sense of the situation we find ourselves in. And we have come to rely on these things to frame the world in which we live. But Emerson, one among a long line of thinkers before him, proposes that these things are empty; useful in dealing with each other perhaps,
but void of the meaning we are seeking. something that, [quote] “perpetually renews itself wherever the man breathes.” (pg.76) What is it? To put it simply, it’s yourself. A healthy reliance upon your own abilities and ideas to forge your way through life. Emerson quoting Caliph Ali writes, [quote] “They lot or portion of life is seeking after thee; therefore be at rest from seeking after it” (pg.76). Emerson notes this trend in politics, we believe that growing in numbers makes us stronger. And perhaps we are right in some areas, but not when it comes down to the individual level.
The wave will move regardless, but what about you, that teeny tiny particle of water inside? Will you continue to wander aimlessly through the sea? Or will you forge your own path toward the shore?
Emerson continues, “ask nothing of men, and in the endless mutation, though only firm column must presently appear the upholder of all that surrounds thee. He who knows that power is inborn, that he is weak because he has looked for good out of him and elsewhere, and so perceiving, throws himself unhesitatingly on his thought, instantly rights himself, stands in the erect, position, commands his limbs, works miracles; just as a man who stands on his feet is stronger than a man who stands on his head” (pg.76)
All along the answers reside within us. We build upon the knowledge, experiences, and ideas of those before us; but our path is our own. And once we have realized this we can begin to utilize our own innate power to push ourselves in the direction of the best of all possible outcomes. Why search the mountains and the aisles of the local supermarket for something already inside of you? You already have something that can be explored every moment, every day, every year for an entire lifetime and still be mostly shrouded from our conscious observation. The great wealth of your existence is already inside of you and day by day it grows ever richer.
Emerson notes, “So use all that is called Fortune. Most men gamble with her, and gain all, and lose all, as her wheel rolls. But do thou leave as unlawful these winnings, and deal with Cause and Effect, the chancellors of God. In the Will work and acquire, and thou hast chained the wheel of Chance, and shalt sit hereafter out of fear from her rotations.”(pg. 76)
By relying on your nature, using the world that you have helped build inside of you the highs and lows of life can no longer chain you to the wave. You will be free from the tide and free to make your own way in this world. Emerson leaves us with one last thought noting that the good things in life aren’t prepping you for even more bliss but he warns, “and you think good days are preparing for you. Do not believe it. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles” (pg.76). Trust yourself and be free of the chains of the wave, rely on yourself and find yourself basking in the rays of your own sunshine.
So let’s ask ourselves about Emerson and the wave from the same questions from before,
Where do I reside in this world?
What institutions, laws and ideas am I chained to?
What shared identity do I have to those who also reside within this common system?
Where did these ideas come from?
And most importantly, am I forging my own path or am I simply relying on the wave to bring me to where I think I need to be?
Let us know what you think about Emerson and the Wave in the comments. Thanks for listening, and as always, onward!
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Useful Links
Open source “Self-Reliance”: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16643/16643-h/16643-h.htm
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