I’m about half‐way through entering the paper notes I’d mentioned in a previous post into my computer. It’s taken longer than I’d hoped because I’m really good at finding other projects I’m equally interested in doing—but I’m also being kinder to myself when it comes to indulging in those projects: it’s all going to get done in the end, so I might as well enjoy my varied interests and not lament them.
Two themes have emerged so far: one is I’m certain it’s possible to talk to our own language through itself with us playing the parts of metaphor, and two—I’m certain as a result there is a battle taking place within English—and other languages I’m betting—as whatever part in our respective metaphor we’re playing struggles to be understood, acknowledged, nurtured, or destroyed… It’ll make for a compelling whatever it will end up being whenever it ends up being it. At this rate it might be years before I’m done. Or maybe one day I’ll sit down and bang it out in a few weeks.
Either way, I’m keeping at it.
Today’s featured image is a cameraphone shot from where I work. It’s the end of the night so the main lights are off, and for the moment the only illumination of the warehouse is spilling out from a motion‐activated light kept on a different circuit. It will be off in about fifteen minutes once we’ve left.
What I like about this picture is how ripe it is for interpretation: a sea of black darkness with an oasis of pure light off in the distance… salvation awaits, just head to the light… it’ll be okay, just head to the light… Straight out of myth: the catch‐all solution for when things are going off the rails.
And that’s all fine and good, but in this case, that light leads you to one of the warehouse’s bathrooms, where the only way out is through the pipes. What you actually want is the shadowy door to the left of the light—yes it’s still in the darkness, but it’s also clearly marked EXIT and is the only way out of the building pictured in this photograph. Sometimes the way out feels off the beaten path, but that is the power of misguided myth: head to the light—yes. But don’t forget to read the signs as well.
What I also like about this picture is it’s now an impossible picture. Taken months ago at work, this view no longer exists as renovations within the warehouse have placed a wall between where I was standing when I took the photo and the other side of the building.
There would be only darkness if I were to take this picture again today.
As the battle within our language and culture and selves plays out, we must be aware of the changing world around us as well. It is the main event, and our now clearly marked exits from the darkness may not be there again tomorrow if we remain motionless.