Iconic Realism from the 19th Century to the 21st Century: Help to Devastated Areas

Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan)

Writers such as Sydney Owenson have had the opportunity to incorporate human experience in their art by tapping into the consciousness of humanity on multiple sensory levels. In her 1840 book, Woman and Her Master, Owenson makes the following observation: 

The acquirement of a physical elevation, in expanding the sphere of vision, and opening new and vast regions to the sense, obscures and diminishes the individual details comprehended in its grasp; so that intellectual and moral elevation, which has opened to the mind’s eye the wider fields of scientific research and of social combination, has caused the relative value of the smaller facts presented to its apprehension to be either overlooked, or mistaken. (WHM, p. 15)

Owenson’s writing demonstrates my semiotic theory of iconic realism as a means to enlighten her readers to the possibilities of making positive change happen with their own lives and possibly those within their communities by linking the sensory paths of consciousness with appropriate and positive action. 

Often, this can occur when one uses a particularly negative situation, places a positive force within that scene to bring attention to a need for transformation. Currently, this is evident in the area devastated by Hurricane Helene. Many grass-roots organizations have been actively engaged in helping the individuals in the Southeast United States. Where are the so-called beneficial government forces? Nowhere to be seen. Iconic realism at its best. Those who actually care can be seen helping, working, making positive change in the midst of devastation. I think Sydney Owenson would be pleased with the local, grass-roots organizations. 

Here is one such organization, bringing supplies to those in need:

https://www.theyallsquad.org/donate

Locals help each other in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. 

Photo from Google Images