Featured+Project-The+Human+Perspective

By Vaibhav Mohanty Humans, since the beginning of their existence, have tried to do everything possible to make their lives easier. The concept of "luxury," defined as a material object, service, etc., conducive to sumptuous living, thus has great appeal to humans. __The Human Perspective__, as the title suggests, displays the nature of the viewpoint of common society. As one peers through the window in the side of the shoe box, the bending of light waves causes certain objects to stand out more than others in each person's "perspective," noting how nature is undermined due to such a focus on gaining luxury, resulting only in loss and mishaps. media type="custom" key="23243476" align="left" width="80" height="80" The three main figures in the __The Human Perspective __ are the magnifying glass resting upon the "blocks of industrial society," the golf ball inside the metal "treasure chest," and, in the background, a dying flower along with a skeletal "hand of death" holding shiny, beautiful beads. The proper viewing of the box is through the hole in the side of the box, which then leads the human eye to peer through the magnifying glass resting on a LEGO building block and a block of wood. This represents the human point of view (magnifying glass), which, in many societies, is influenced by the industry (building block) and the destruction of nature for the benefit of society (block of wood) //SEE IMAGE BELOW //. The human viewpoint thus exists as a byproduct of the industry and mechanics we have created, both of which are meant to improve the human lifestyle. When one (who has a neutralized or 20/20 eyesight vision) peers through this outlook, the first thing to be seen is the sharp, crisp, and clear image of a golf ball resting in a metallic "treasure chest." This represents luxury and a materialistic lifestyle, both of which are emphasized by society. Thus, __The Human Perspective __ seen from the magnifying glass brings to our immediate attention the luxury that many are known to cherish. However, in the magnifying glass the third figure is the hardest to see. The physical bending of light causes the "hand of death" and the dying rose to be blurred. Essentially, this displays how humans do not realize the consequences of emphasizing luxury. The societal values that have been created (i.e. the emphasis on materialism) is sharp and important to our eyes, but their effect is the destruction of nature and the natural world (dying rose). As a result, only doom can arise, as death condemns luxury (hand of death clenching the shiny beads). All in all, __The Human Perspective __ is crafted, as the human social viewpoint reveals a great emphasis on luxury and materialism, which causes nature to be neglected and destroyed, resulting in loss and the condemnation of luxury by death.
 * THE HUMAN PERSPECTIVE **
 * Literary Artist Statement **

The concept presented in __The Human Perspective __ also relates to John Milton's //Paradise Lost // and Voltaire's //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Candide //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">. In Paradise Lost, Eve is tempted into eating the fruit by the serpent, who emphasizes the materialistic rewards of doing so. Eve justified to Adam “If this be our condition, thus to dwell / In narrow circuit… / How are we happy, still in fear of harm?” (322-326). Eve, in this passage, argues for a more **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">comfortable lifestyle **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">. Although her quote does not necessarily mean a luxurious lifestyle, she still supports the concept that humans are constantly engaged in a process of trying to better their lives. She, as a result, pays the consequences, exemplifying how __<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">The Human Perspective __<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;"> portrays the human societal viewpoint and its emphasis on luxury. Similarly, Voltaire's //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Candide //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;"> portrays this concept; however, it uses satire to do so. El Dorado in the story is a society where materialism is **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">not **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;"> one of the primary social values. Rather, a strong devotion to each other drives the civilization. Essentially, Voltaire makes a mockery of the modern social values that cherish luxury and materialistic possessions. These concepts in Milton's //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Paradise Lost //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;"> and Voltaire's //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Candide //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;"> correlate with the primary notion presented in __<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">The Human Perspective __<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The objects used to put together the shoe box project were random objects and/or toys found around the house. I randomly arranged each of the objects in a linear fashion. I peered through the magnifying glass, and the idea currently posited by __The Human Perspective__ came to me regarding using the magnifying glass to show different views of each of the objects in the box. I rearranged the objects to their current arrangement to connect the view through the magnifying glass with society's perception of ideal values.

=Music Statement=

The Human Perspective Vaibhav Mohanty (2013) [|Symphony No. 1, Movement 1 (Richard Saucedo)] [|Symphony No. 1, Movement 2 (Richard Saucedo)] //*These links will redirect you to Hal Leonard Corporation's// //audio player widget for each movement*// The two movements of Richard Saucedo's first symphony juxtapose each other in that both of the movements, which utilize instrumental solos and similar melodic motifs, display the notions presented __The Human Perspective__. The first movement as a whole posits the concept of a luxurious lifestyle and the societal perspective of the world, as presented by the lush chords and the powerful accentuations. As the piece progresses, primarily "happy" thoughts and emotions are provoked, aiding this connotation. The second movement, however, is more dark, representing the diminishing status of nation and death's condemnation of materialism. However, near the end of the second movement, the chords brighten, and the initial feeling of greatness is imbued once again as the realization of the human perspective helps improve society's viewpoint for the better.