"Dixit Dominus" (With gratitude to Mozart) and Iconic Realism

Cochlea from Medical Dictionary- The Free Dictionary

When I was in high school, I was blessed to attend a two week music workshop at the University of Georgia. I began by playing oboe in the orchestra, but switched to sing in the advanced choir. It was much more rewarding to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed singing Alto to Mozart's Dixit Dominus as one of the classical pieces we sang for the cumulative concert. 

 

In the poem below, I demonstrate my semiotic theory of iconic realism by writing a description of the hearing process, but one aspect of that process is unexpected: the cochlea is dormant. This human ear is deaf. Thus, this perfect individual will never hear...Dixit Dominus. (It is God's Word.) I have placed the iconic representation of hearing with an iconic composition, Dixit Dominus, to bring awareness of the beauty in all of humanity, particularly in those individuals who cannot hear. 

Dixit Dominus 

The chorus swells; waves rush in,

their flow controlled 

by the canal's turbid banks. 

Membrane pulsates - 

Malleus, Incus, Stapes

vibrate

through a liquid universe.  

Electrical impulses meander

in and out and around 

minuscule hair cells within.

Majestic cochlea sits on its throne,

dormant. 

Eighth nerve to the brain reaches out.

Mozart sheds a heavenly tear. 

This perfect one will never hear ~

Dixit Dominus.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

To hear Mozart's Vesperae solennes de Confessore, Dixit Dominus, click onto this link: 

https://youtu.be/H7QbViCuGfU

Click onto the link below to see an animation of sound felt along the basilar membrane in the cochlea:

https://youtu.be/dyenMluFaUw

'Global Water Foundation and Iconic Realism (Click onto this title to see and hear the video)

Thumbnail photo from YouTube video

Climate change is not a modern phenomenon. On the contrary, our beautiful planet's climate has been changing for millions of years. Let's look at one current  method of dealing with the changes that do occur, particularly those changes associated with drought. 

An effective way for public service organizations to reach the public is through a multi-sensory approach. Such was the case with the Global Water Foundation. Years ago, to bring awareness of water shortages throughout the world, this organization created a brief, poignant film using iconic realism as a way to elucidate for its audience this grave ecological issue. In this brief film, the iconic image of a whale leaping out of the desert sand focuses the audience's attention to the increasingly devastating diminution of potable water in specific areas across our beautiful planet.  

Imre Madách's "The Tragedy of Man," Arthur Griffith's "The Resurrection of Hungary: A Parallel for Ireland", and Iconic Realism

Dissonance is an avenue to creative expression for change, indicated in Imre Madách's play and Arthur Griffith's book, The Resurrection of Hungary: A Parallel for Ireland.

In his 1860 play, "The Tragedy of Man," Imre Madách uses iconic realism to illustrate cultural awareness of the value in humanity's ability to understand the simple gifts of our Lord.  He questions societal expectations by moving his audience through a journey of social outcry against pettiness in his depictions of Adam, Eve and Lucifer, entangled in episodic adventures that transcend historical boundaries.

They travel to ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, the middle ages, and London. Madách’s radical, textual dissent against the provincial establishment reveals his personal truth by eliminating story line constrictions of time and space. He deliberately places Adam and Eve in these unusual settings for this couple to illustrate that the journey of self worth and independence includes the worthiness of nation, beginning with the attainment of self-knowledge. He presents Eve as the mother of humanity, with the conviction that her children will move humanity forward in their quest for true knowledge. Similarly, Madách holds onto the hope that his Hungary would develop autonomy and maintain its unique culture and language.  

In his 1918 book, The Resurrection of Hungary, Arthur Griffith writes, “Ireland’s heroic and long-enduring resistances to the destruction of her independent nationality were themes the writers of Young Hungary dwelt upon to enkindle and make resolute the Magyar people” (xxiv). Griffith’s association of Ireland and Hungary illustrates that artists living within the contrived constraints of both of these countries use the power of a dissonant pen to motivate their reading audiences to make positive choices.

Saint Stephen and Iconic Realism

The Stoning of Saint Stephen

by Rembrandt, 1625

This painting is housed in le Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, Lyon, France

Saint Stephen was ordained one of the first deacons of the Christian faith by decree of the first apostles of Jesus after Jesus' crucifixion. He was outspoken about the hypocritical actions of the Jewish leaders. Many widows in Jerusalem were not being appropriately cared for, and Stephen made this known to the Sanhedrin. Instead of listening to his reasoning, the Jewish leaders and others led him outside the gates of Jerusalem and proceeded to stone him to death. As he was being stoned, he spoke these words, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (Acts 7:60)

How does this act of martyrdom reflect the semiotic theory of iconic realism? 

1. An iconic, real figure, Stephen, is brought to trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin. (an iconic, realistic figure in a place not usually associated with Christian leaders)

2. He believed in the Law of Moses, yet the Jewish leaders thought of him as a political and religious threat, and gave Saul of Tarsus orders to have him stoned to death. (An extreme action that causes Stephen to resist any thought of combative response.) 

Note: Saul would eventually receive the Divine calling to serve the Lord as Paul and compose many of writings found in the New Testament. 

3. As Stephen was being stoned, he was heard crying out, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (Acts: 7:60) Forgiveness within his heart that reflected the words of Jesus before He perished on the cross. (This action brings the reading audience to an awareness of the need for forgiveness in order for one to save one's soul.  

Saint Stephen's feast day is December 26. 

Background information has been paraphrased from this website: 

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=137

Christine de Pisan (or Pizan) Medieval Writer, and Iconic Realism in Roman de la Rose

The Selected Writings of Christine de Pizan

A Norton Critical Edition

Christine de Pisan (or Pizan) was a 14-15^th century writer who illustrated the semiotic theory of iconic realism in many of her writings and particularly in her debate of the French poem, Roman de la Rose. I explain her contribution in the excerpt below from my first book:

The semiotic constructs of symbolism, semantics and linguistic pragmatics provide the leverage for the creative ideas to manifest within each member of the audience. At this point, symbolism becomes a new association of the possibility for recognized imagery with unrecognized reality. A newly formed idea becomes the reality within the mind of the receiving audience, boundless in perception constraints. The audience member receives this reality and conceives the new idea through a multi-sensory experience. In reference to Roman de la Rose and interpretation, Christine de Pisan noted: 

Because human understanding cannot attain to a perfect knowledge of absolute truth and cannot comprehend mysteries on account of the gross, terrestrial darkness which impedes and obstructs true light, so that men draw conclusions from opinion rather than from certain knowledge – for these reasons, debates often arise among even the wisest of men because of differing opinions, each one striving to show by his reasoning that his particular opinion is the true one.^[1]

Through her rhetoric, Christine de Pisan illustrates the complexities involved with interpretation and the possibilities of renewed thought processes. No longer associated with the original idea, the new concept emerges with an energy of its own, with which the audience member can now associate creative action, continuing the creative process of the original thought. Thus, iconic realism magnifies the elements of semiotic theory through renewed perceptions that the receptive audience experiences with an artist’s rendering of reality.  

^[1]Christine de Pisan. La Querelle de la Rose: Letters and Documents.trans. Joseph L. Baird and John R. Kane. (Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina Press, 1978).

Excerpt from my book, The Theory of Iconic Realism

Tyree Guyton's 'Heidelberg Project' and Iconic Realism (Click this title to view more information)

Tyree Guyton, photo from Google Images

Soles of Detroit photo from Google Images

A while ago, I was channel surfing and happened upon a series of shows on the Green Planet channel entitled, "Detroit in Overdrive." Well, having been born and raised through my 14th year of life in the fine Metro Detroit area, I just had to watch these shows. And they brought tears to my eyes. One particular story, which focused on Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project, immediately struck me, for it was a perfect demonstration of iconic realism. Thank you, Tyree! 

Mr. Guyton has assembled a collection of iconic items that many people had discarded, including houses in his neighborhood. He applied his artistic talent to breathe life into the objects while simultaneously illustrated to those blessed with viewing this project with an awareness of possibility. He has turned blight into right! His juxtaposition of trash turned into art, in the midst of a forgotten and neglected neighborhood, demonstrates the cultural renaissance that is taking place in Detroit through the creative perseverance of dedicated individuals. 

Another fascinating aspect of this project centers on shoes. Mr. Guyton has collected shoes of all shapes and sizes, restored and newly painted by the members of the community. He has arranged those works of art in the middle of a street, providing his audience with an awareness of Detroit's restored soles as a visual testimony of the soulful restoration that occurs when dedication to the creativity and energy of a community transforms that community's heart and vitality. God bless you, Tyree Guyton! Onward!

Shakespeare's 'Venus and Adonis' and Iconic Realism

"Venus and Adonis" by Francois Lemoyne (1729)

Iconic realism is evident in William Shakespeare's epyllion, "Venus and Adonis." He places these two beings of different mortalities in a lush setting, similar to the Garden of Eden, but the goddess of Love finds it impossible to obtain the object of her desire, for his own desires and eventual mortality triumph. Through his representation of this immortal creature in conjunction with a mortal setting and circumstances, Shakespeare uses the goddess of Love to elucidate for his readers the importance of suffering as a vital aspect of the human experience.

Painting of William Shakespeare by William Rock

Chinese Calligraphy of Hamlet's Soliloquy by Huang Xiang

Listen to the John Blow musical rendition (1683) of this tragic tale below.

Performance: Concerto Copenhagen