Light and Shadows

Perhaps my favorite interstice is the essay on light and shadow.  Mostly because shadows seem such insignificant and yet overpowering testimonies to the presence of reality.  Casting a shadow guarantees my reality, my real presence.  In Richard Strauss’ lush and beautiful opera Die Frau Ohne Schatten the lead character sells her shadow, thereby brining about her inability to have a child, to make a lasting difference in the world.  Yes, it is a mythic claim and perhaps it sounds silly in this age where we see children as a choice, an option.  But in an ancient society where humans were scarce, a child was the gift of the future.

Pindar, the Roman poet, described a man as “the dream of a shadow” and a lovely column in the New York Times used his evocative phrase to introduce a short film of shadow images walking on the pavement.

Maauley’s essay takes us from scientific definitions of the umbra/penumbra, the role of light in life from photosynthesis to establishing our circadian rhythms. Here are some images to identify.  See if you can find his references in the essay.

Visit the page dedicated to the shadow.

And for Lindsey Sterling’s work:

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1 Response to Light and Shadows

  1. kmyles says:

    “Casting a shadow guarantees my reality, my real presence.” Reading that line truly hit me. I’m someone who struggles to find self-worth and I don’t think my presence has much meaning. However, that line argues otherwise. I have a shadow, so I am something and I mean something to this earth and to the people around me. I can be seen and interacted with and influenced and infleuntial. I’m present. That is such a remarkable, positive outlook on such a dark element, and I love it.
    I’m also a big fan of Lindsey Stirling, as she is such a talented artist. I loved this music video of hers. It was so creative and cool with the dancing shadow. Thank you for posting it!

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