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.
Religion is constantly changing (Rindfleish, 2006, p. 344) and, with the internet gaining popularity, we have access to more! More spiritual knowledge, more educational sources, more modes of communication (Cheong, Huang & Poon, 2011). We not only have access to religious ideas and knowledge but the internet has brought with it the opportunity for new connections between otherwise unknown individuals to form (Cambell, 2010). How influential are these experiences in the digital cyberspace and what impact do they have upon our spiritual identities?
Cambell (2010) identifies that religious views have been present in the online world since it first began. The chance to communicate ideas and discuss topics of religious importance was greatly enhanced and people were able to 'experiment' with religions in a way that could never occur in real-life (Cambell, 2010). Whilst there are numerous blog discussions, websites and interactive software that allows you to play out religious rituals or explore an important pilgrimage site (Cambell, 2010) how do these compare to the actual real-life experience of being in that place surrounded by the unique people, smells, noises and atmosphere?
The online realm gives us access to so many networks that there are new communities appearing every minute (Wagner, 2011), but how important and substantial are these connections and experiences? It has been noted that religion provides social bonds, a way to find community, identity and security, in a rapidly changing world (Bossius, Kahn-Harris & Hager, 2011; Wiebe, 2010). However, can we find this connection and security in an environment where everything is in a state of constant flux (Wagner, 2011)?
The internet, cyberspace, the online realm - whatever you wish to call the place where communications through digital technology occur - is still a contested space. Many argue that the social landscape of the digital world is rich with opportunities to immerse oneself in the experience where religious connections, communications and identity formation occur in ways as powerful as if it occurred within a church congregation (Wagner, 2011). On the other hand though is the sense that we participate in this online world as individuals; we are sitting by ourselves, surrounded by our profane belongings, in a mundane space and we could easily lose power or simply hop up and our connection would be broken (Wagner, 2011).
Whilst I respect that the people behind both of these arguments are on their own religious journeys and that we all experience the sacred in different forms, for me the power of spiritual connections is in that embodiment, the living, breathing, exhilerating sense of being alive and being connected that I would never be able to achieve through staring at a glass screen.
References
Bossius, T., Kahn-Harris, K., & Hager, A. (2011). Introduction: Religion and popular music in Europe. In T. Bossius, A. Hager & K. Kahn-Harris (Eds.). Religion and Popular Music in Europe. New York: I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd.
Cambell, H. (2010). Religious Communities and the Internet. London & New York: Routledge.
Cheong, P. H., Huang, S., & Poon, J. P. H. (2011). Cultivating online and offline pathways to enlightenment. Information, Communication & Society, 14(8). 1160 - 1180. doi: 10.1080/1369118X.2011.579139
Rindfleish, J. (2006). Consuming the self: New age spirituality as "social product" in consumer society. Consumption Markets & Culture, 8(4). 343 - 360. doi: 10.1080/10253860500241930
Wagner, R. (2011). Godwired: Religion, Ritual, and Virtual Reality. Abigndon, Oxon: Routledge.
Wiebe, M. (2010). Social work, social justice, and religion: A personal perspective. Canadian Social Work Review, 27(1). 139 - 142.
The commercialisation and increased access to content occurring in our community today leads to individuals being able to shop around for items that suit their needs (Einstein, 2011). This does not only occur with popular products such as shampoo, but is also occurring with religious institutions (Einstein, 2011). This is what is termed by Einstein (2011) as the spiritual marketplace where religious faith is no longer a family tradition but a case of finding what suits oneself the best.
Individuals can easily access information about religious groups, rituals and experiences of believers online (Cheong, Huang & Poon, 2011, p. 1163). This knowledge is no longer limited to the followers or even the religious leaders themselves but can be readily accessed by those with no prior experiences (Cheong, Huang & Poon, 2011, p. 1163) and thus congregations and religious institutions must ensure that the knowledge consumers find attracts them to the church.
Many religious institutions, identifying the necessity to 'sell' and 'brand' themselves in order to attract and indeed maintain new followers, create campaigns that attract popular audiences (Einstein, 2011). The following are some examples of recent religious advertising campaigns:
When I first viewed the The Church of Scientology's advertisement
I was not aware of who created the advertisement, what it was trying
to sell, or the message that it was trying to promote. Upon viewing the
commercial I felt inspired and empowered. No, I did not have to be
defined by my name, clothes, fears, past. Yes, I can make a difference
and get back up when something goes wrong.
Like myself, I am
sure many people could relate and identify with the statements shown at
the beginning of the video. The ideologies being portrayed are not
unique. These are aspects of life that most people, no matter what their
beliefs, experience and relate to. Perhaps that is what The Church of Scientology
is wanting to convey however - a commonality and accessiblity that
people can relate to. After all that is why religious institutions are
creating commercials, to appeal to the audience in order to attract
members (Cheong, Huang & Poon, 2011; Einstein, 2011).
Once again this advertisement is focussed mainly on the aspects of
everyday life until the end where it begins to discuss the role church
has played in the interviewees life. What is perhaps most interesting
about this interview however is that the subject is Brandon Flowers, a
well known musician. Selling the message through a celebrity blurs the
divide between popular culture and religion (Redmond & Holmes,
2007).
Whether this is a form of what Ward (2011) terms
Para-religion is debatable however as the advertisement is not
presenting Brandon to be an object of worship nor is he supporting the
ideas of popular culture - clearly explaining that he does not prescribe
to the popular connotations associated with the music business. Whilst
Brandon is not positioned as an idol within the religion, there
are many similar advertisements involving everyday people, The Church of Latter Day Saints has definitely utilised having a celebrity member who supports their ideologies as a way to allure people to the church.
In fact The Church of Latter Day Saints advertising campaign allows people to find the advertisement that is
the right fit for them. You are able to search for people from the same
ethnicity, age and gender as yourself (or that which you aspire to be).
This is a strategic move that allows people to find something that
ensures they
will relate to the organisation (Cheong, Huang & Poon, 2011).
Society today requires religious organisations to be more creative and relevant as choices and information become more accessible (Einstein, 2011). As has been discussed, religious organisations are able to market themselves in ways that combat the issues they have encountered and appeal to the audience or individual's needs and experiences (Einstein, 2011). Individual's now have a greater choice over how they engage in religious activities and the church's must adapt in order to maintain their followings (Cheong, Huang & Poon, 2011).
References
Cheong, P. H., Huang, S., & Poon, J. P. H. (2011).
Cultivating online and offline pathways to enlightenment. Information, Communication & Society, 14(8). 1160 – 1180. DOI:
10.1080/1369118X.2011.579139
Rojek, C. (2007). Chapter 14 - Celebrity and Religion. In S. Redmond, & S. Holmes (Eds.), Stardom and Celebrity (pp. 171 - 180). London: Sage Publications.
Ward, P. (2011). Gods behaving badly: Media religion and celebrity culture. London: SCM Press.
Looking out over the gorge"Why are we polluting where we are living?"
