The importance of the sacred that surrounds us

The state of nature has proven to be a fiercely contested subject over recent years, in particular the perceptions about how human kind has contributed to the current state of nature.

Climate change. Global warming. The terms are tossed around daily but many people still are unsure what this means for human kind and planet Earth. The debate is endless however what I want to address in this post is the perception of nature conveyed in two short videos…

 

BBC Planet Earth

Hoppipolla Song - Sigur Ros

The first, shown above, displays images of nature with lovely melodic music accompanying to make one feel at peace. The video commences with scenes of the landscape from above and shifts to show various perspectives of nature from around the world.The images are colourful and natural, highlighting the changing seasons and landscapes on Earth. The focus is on showcasing the tremendous capabilities and power of animals and nature itself. However, whilst the video uses authentic footage, there is a sense that only the best of the natural world is being displayed, a concern discussed by Klassen (2012).

Whilst the lyrics are in Icelandic the overall message conveyed is the wonder, awe and power of nature itself. An image of a lighthouse pounded by the roaring ocean really is the pinnacle where nature is seen as a force of its own. Ever changing yet continuous.

 

Peace one day
The Sea is Rising - Bliss n Esso feat. John Butler Trio  

The second, above, starts staring into the face of a man. From the first moment there is a sense that the creator of the video has a purpose and wants to challenge the viewer’s perception of the world. The focus is initially on the problems of the world: poverty, riot, homelessness, dictators, destroyed houses, traffic jams. The viewer is already positioned to be uptight, on edge and rather angry or depressed about the situation of the world.

The majority of the images are shown in dark sepia, black tones that accentuate the violence that is occurring however the shots of nature are a natural lighting which highlights the softness and beauty outside of the human race. The video makes comparisons between human actions and these natural events and landscapes with the lyrics explicitly outlining this relationship: 

"Why are we polluting where we are living?"
"All I know is the sun is shining and we are fighting through the night, the bergs are melting and the seas are rising." 

This video really positions the viewer to feel at blame for the poor state of nature and also challenges the viewer to change their ways in hope of a better future for the next generation.

These videos both address the issue of caring for nature in very different ways. The first inspires the viewer with the beauty and awe of nature hoping that seeing this will motivate them to protect and preserve the environment so they can continue to be amazed by the wonders of nature. The other highlights what human kind are doing wrong and the effect it is having on nature in the hope that seeing this will make the viewers realize they need to stop these behaviours.



For me the first video was the most effective and motivating as it shifted me into an inspired, at awe and motivated state of mind. I wanted to be one with the landscape, I wanted to connect to the animals, I wanted to show the beauty to everyone.





The other video was very emotive however it made me scared more so than invigorated to make a change. Whilst the content was much more realistic in many ways I felt that the challenge was quite simply too huge with the lyrics even saying "If you don't know, and I don't know, I guess all we can do is ask them why."


The fact that these videos are widely known is an indication of the importance given to the matter of environmental protection. It is a cause that I feel we should be strongly passionate about. Nature provides many of us with an indescribable sense of awe and wonderment and is central to our survival. Through utilising artistic forms, such as music, individuals can provoke a greater emotional connection with many people around the world who may otherwise turn their backs on environmental issues.

Reference
Klassen, C. (2012). Avatar, dark green religion, and the technological construction of nature. Cultural Studies Review, 18(2). 74 - 88. Retrieved from http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/csrj/article/view/2757/2947



Image Source

Butterflies Closeup [Image]. (2013). Retrieved from http://pixabay.com/en/butterflies-closeup-insect-95358/

Glacier Sea Iceberg [Image]. (2010). Retrieved from http://pixabay.com/en/glacier-sea-iceberg-ice-cold-278

Northpole Iceberg [Image]. (2012). Retrieved from http://pixabay.com/en/north-pole-iceberg-ice-cold-69212


Video Source

cgmasroor. (2009, June 29). BBC Planet Earth - Hoppipolla song by Sigur Ros [Video file]. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH2Z_1-Frb8

lifeseditor. (2009, September 17). Bliss n Eso feat: John Butler Trio - "The Sea is Rising" - Peace One Day Video [Video file]. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J08MqOtAEVs