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10 October 2005
{ Introduction to form and material }
A substantial portion of the design/communication philosophy of Vilém Flusser is based on the relationship he sets up between form and material. An abbreviated—and arguably insufficient—definition of this relationship might read like this: "Forms" are the models and theorems that give shape to physical existence, and "material" is made up of the physical elements themselves. If this sounds too vague, it might help to envision a completely transparent box (a form) that can only be seen after it has been filled with a material, such as sand, that conforms to the shape of the box.As I've let this concept sink in over the past couple weeks, I've noticed a number of spiritual applications. The first deals with the Atonement. I've always viewed the doctrine of the infinite nature of Christ's atonement from a slightly different perspective than most members of the LDS church, and Flusser's philosophy of form and material has helped me to pinpoint the difference. The scriptures—and LDS doctrine in particular—suggest that Christ suffered for all the sin and pain suffered by man, and this is often taken to mean that Christ personally and literally suffered the effects of each possible sin and felt each intimate pain. Logic, at least as far as I can see, would dictate that a truly infinite atonement need not be bound to the details of each sin (whether petty or damning) and pain (whether minute or chronic). Rather, Christ suffered an eternal "form" of sin and suffering that served as the model for the entirety of human existence. This allowed him to gain perfect experience and understanding without living out the "material" details of each possible sin and pain.
The second application: A popular adage in the LDS community states that we should be "in the world, but not of the world." When this was repeated this afternoon in our Sunday School class, I was reminded of how frustratingly narrow this view seems. The implication is that the world is so tainted by evil influences that we need to separate ourselves from it in every possible way. Consider this revision: Whether or not it is acknowledged by the general human population, this world (and every aspect of our existence) conforms to models set in place by the Creator. If we foster a keen perception of what goes on around us, we will eventually understand that living in the world allows us to see how these models affect its inhabitants, whether to benefit them or to impose consequences (both temporal and eternal). This perspective eliminates the fear that is commonly associated with the "in the world, but not of the world" approach: the fear that we are suffocated by the worldliness and apparent spiritual decline of the human race.
[ posted by Matthew Chrislip at 02:47 :
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4 Comments:
What Flusser says about the form and material, or rather your definition of what he is saying, reminds me of the whole « glass of water » demonstration. (I actually don’t like that, although it did prove its point the first 100 times it was demonstrated.) Well, let me just say that I like to say that the glass is entirely full, but what it is full of is should be our focus. It is the material that aids it in taking its form that should be considered in life and I agree that Christ felt it with out the actual « material »… one can feel/experience with out being physical.
The « in not the of » idea is actually something that I have never commented on because I fear that it would come out wrong, and yet I still don’t feel that I can properly express how I feel without feeling like I sound apostate. But it is based on this: the world is beautiful and so many things can be enjoyed and stimulate us… help us build love and appreciation for what we have. All planned by the Creator; how can it be disregarded? Called unnecessary or even sinful? stopping there
-hm
your reference to form causes me to think of the creation as a form - space available for it and then "material" added step by step. each addition had been "spiritually" made before "materially" made. is that spiritual creation form? i was at the temple saturday, so that is what came to mind. i am way behind, aren't i? now that i write it, it seems obvious regarding "spirit" being form. hence, the way we live our life is the material that fills the form. no?
as to the atonement, i was impressed by elder bateman's statement at conference that he feels the "suffering" at gethsemane and on the cross was christ's actual seeing each of us, one by one, and understanding what we "suffer" and thus knowing how to help us. the thought was so profound and personal to me that i was overcome with emotion. rather than suffering my sin, he suffered (because of) my sin and pain out of love for me.
and "in" but not "of" the world has only symbolic meaning to me - like coming out of "babylon". we are in the world, which the lord created, but to be part of babylon is to embrace worldliness (distraction from our purpose here). we are living in the world he created for the "use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart..for taste and for smell..to enliven the soul. and it pleaseth god that he hath given all these things unto man" (d&c 59:18-20)and we rejoice in it, yet belong to his kingdom, not of this world, in our inner being.
Matthew,
Although I am living in Paris I am not an intellectual/idealist/designer, as you know.
So I would just make two comments :
1 - I agree with Flusser's statement : "Forms are the models and theorems that give shape to physical existence, and material is made up of the physical elements themselves".
I find it quite compatible with the Catholic doctrine which says that "the soul is the form of the body", the soul animates and gives shape to the body. This may even help to understand what our resurrected or glorious body will be : our body will be totally obedient to our soul, because our soul will be totally connected to the Holy Ghost. So our body will directly, totally radiate our soul full of godly light. The body will be transparent to the Spirit, the great Designer.
2 – I love your mom's comment.
Pierre.
I love your mom's comment, too. It reminded me of an experience I had years ago, right before I moved to MI. I was stressed out of my mind, having just finished graduate school, trying to get ready to move, etc. etc. At this point we were in the middle of running a summer institute for about 800 teachers--no small trick. With about three days notice, I was asked to give my "farewell" talk in sacrament meeting. It was to be something about a testimony of Christ. I didn't feel as if I could say no, but I couldn't figure out how I was going to prepare a talk while fulfilling all my conference responsibilities. As luck would have it, one of those was to take a bunch of the participants on an all-day trip on Saturday, which included a whale watching trip.
I have a clear memory of bouncing across the wave in the whale boat, looking at the sun on the water, looking at the dolphins jumping in the waves, and thinking, "What am I going to say about Christ?" This is the only time I've had what felt like inspiration in literal words I can recall. Clear as a bell, the words came in my head, "All things testify of Christ." Then and since then, I've found great joy in looking at various aspects of the creation and thinking, "What is this plant--or rock, or landscape, or star, or physical principle, or whatever--teaching me?" I can't always figure it out, but when I look for meaning I almost always find it.
I looked and looked for a scripture to match the words I "heard," since I thought I must have remembered them from somewhere. I didn't find them, but I found the idea in Moses 9:63.
"And behold, all things have their likeness [form?], and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath; all things bear record of me." I like that a lot. Now, since one of the four-legged parts of creation is crawling all over my keyboard, presumably looking for dinner, I will close this epic!
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