Category: Uncategorized

The Hereford Mappa Mundi, thought to have been made in around 1300 – maps the known Christian world. Although it contains physical locations, it is focused on the spiritual value of those locations. For example, Jerusalem is at the very centre of the map as the place where Jesus was crucified. Eden appears at the very top of the circle and the Red Sea is depicted with the path of Moses drawn through it.

Also the maker of the map and the wider Medieval world knew that the world was spherical, not flat. This can be seen in the text surrounding Rome, reading:  ‘Rome, head of the world, holds the bridle of the spherical earth.’ 

The idea that faith and belief are an inherent part of our surroundings and part of the very fabric of our lives is something I feel we’ve lost. If we made a Mappa Mundi today what would it look like? This map represented the significance of religion in our journey through life as much as it portrayed the known geography of the world. Where would we centre the earth, maybe the Silicon Valley?

This site has an interactive view of the map, where you can get the details and stories behind some of the illustrations as well as seeing the imagery close up: https://www.themappamundi.co.uk/index.php

Thinking about mapping belief – although more focused on wider societal values (although how do I know what those are?). Grayson Perry has created his own mythology stemming from his childhood [Alan Measles]. I want to look at the mythology I am meant to believe in. –> the idea that consumption will save me, that I can be fulfilled by outside forces.

(From BBC series The Beauty of Maps)

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

‘Survival’ Guides and such. Navigating the modern world

The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden is a capsule of nostalgia for pre-digital childhoods – trying to get boys to engage with their world and learn some outdated lessons. Do boys really need to know about the patron saints of Britain, or marbles? It’s probably very good but I find it interesting how superfluous and wilfully nostalgic it is, whether the boys it’s aimed at would enjoy it more than their fathers is another thing. Also why can’t girls be dangerous too? 

I think if zombies do become a thing most of us will die, I am content with that eventuality. Some people clearly aren’t. Isn’t it funny how there are people out there obsessed with preparing for these infinitely unlikely possibilities – there was a guy in Norway (?) who a couple years back came out of the shelter he entered at the start of the millennium in preparation for the y2K disaster. 

I’m not sure how many of us actually encounter the wilderness anymore, at least not to the point where we need to become self-sustaining. Still, this one would probably be useful for any intrepid hikers or ramblers or travellers.

Honourable mentions: ‘The Ultimate Obama Survival Guide’ by Wayne Allyn Root, the ‘Vampire Combat Manual’ by Roger Ma and the ‘Don’t Panic; Doom Survival Guide’ (author unknown)

—> Why are we so focused on preparing for worlds that we are unlikely to ever encounter? What would a survival guide look like for the day-to-day activities we experience? – not just things like how to shop on a budget or keep your house clean or impress your boss, but how do we navigate the complex world around us on a spiritual level? Our society is less and less religious, so where does our faith go? Where does our time go? How do we feel fulfilled? –> studies show that unhappy people spend more and consume more, marketers purposely use this against us, they engineer unhappiness and discontent. ‘you will not be happy with hairy legs or pimples’ ‘you will not be happy without the perfect cologne or underwear’ ‘your baby will be behind if they don’t watch our tv or drink our formula’ —> has our faith become a faith in things? If so then what does that faith look like? How do we interact with it? Where do we interact with it? – things I’m thinking about at the moment

Henry Darger, outsider artist (1892-1973)

Top: 172 At Jennie Richee. Storm continues. Lightning strikes shelter but no one is injured. (double-sided) (mid-twentieth century)

Middle: 2 At Cederine She witnesses a frightful slaughter of officers. (double-sided) (mid-twentieth century)

Bottom:  At Jennie Turner Children tied to trees in path of forest fires. In spite of exceeding extreme peril, Vivian girls rescued them I Vivian Girl Jennie observes with spy glass great massacre of children and brings the attention of her sisters to it. (double-sided) (mid-twentieth century).

Source: http://collection.folkartmuseum.org/view/people/asitem/items$0040:492

–> Creation of a fantasy world mirroring reality (events are loosely based on the civil war)

Fabrice Monteiro, The Prophecy, 2015 – photographic series

Quote from the Guardian article ‘Gods of Garbage’

“Fabrice Monteiro travelled to the most polluted places in Africa and created terrifying characters who roamed their midst dressed in eerie debris. They are spirits, he says, on a mission to make humans change their ways”

“Monteiro says: ‘The Prophecy is a tale of hope and empowerment. Earth has sent her spirits to tell humans that they have the power to reverse what they have done to the planet’”

“The characters are based on a children’s story by Monteiro, combining animism and traditional religion with superheroes.”

Monteiro’s website: https://fabricemonteiro.viewbook.com/ – he has a lot more work that I want to look into further

Article: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2017/jun/16/gods-of-garbage-fabrice-monteiro-the-prophecy-polluted-environment-in-pictures