Below is my theory of iconic realism.
I will bring it up to the front
page periodically for reference purposes.
Realism comprises authentic and independent aspects of the natural world, which
individuals comprehend through sensory perception. The term icon describes
a realistic person or realistic object, categorically perceived by a population
as representative of a specific human activity or an object that bears
significance to human activity. Iconic realism, then, involves the
placement of an icon within the midst of a unique realistic setting, out of
place for this particular icon, creating a static coalescence of the icon with
the designated realism. Since both the icon and the realistic setting represent
an aspect of the culture, the resulting dissonance between these two entities
is the catalyst that generates enlightenment of a cultural dilemma.
An example of iconic realism would be as follows:
An artist places an image of Jesus the Christ, or a representation of this icon of the Christian Faith in the midst of a shopping mall on a Sunday afternoon, an aspect of
the real world. The placement of Jesus in this setting would generate enlightenment of a cultural dilemma, reviving a new consciousness that exists within the public's cognitive
dissonance of Christianity and a secular activity (shopping in the mall) that focuses on the reality of materialism, which becomes prevalent during this particular time in historically busy holiday season.
Touchdown Jesus
@ University of Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A.
