#Edward Mirzoeff

[thefollyflaneuse]

The Bristol Colonnade, Portmeirion, Gwynedd

When Barbara Jones published Follies and Grottoes in 1953, she made no mention of the coastal village that architect Clough Williams-Ellis had been creating at Portmeirion since 1925. Reviewing the book for the Times Literary Supplement, Laurence Whistler thought this was a ‘curious’ omission as he believed the whole conception could be described as folly. Continue reading The Bristol Colonnade,…

[benmccullochccc]

How to Shape the Natural World?

Since the Industrial revolution the effects humans have had on the Earth have been far from environmentally friendly. This period of time has been named the Anthropocene. The era where human actions are the primary influential reason for changes, such as to our climate, our environment and certain species that are becoming extinct. The sooner we as humans come to the realisation that our actions are having a very real, but negative impact on the Earth, the sooner we can start shaping the natural world in a more positive way. We need to become a more sustainable and environmentally conscious species.

The first steps in becoming a more environmental conscious race is by acknowledging where we have made mistakes over the past years and how we can promote alternatives in a convenient way. People need to first be made aware and educated on the damage we are causing to our planet and what kind of mark are we leaving on the earth just to satisfactory our wants and needs. Nicholas Mirzoeff explains the Anthropocene era as changing our “planet’s fundamental geology.”  (Mirzoeff 219). The overall impact we as humans are having on the Earth is becoming a very destructive one. Mirzoeff states how “If there are to be new ways of imagining ourselves in the world, there will need to be a new visual way of thinking for the Anthropocene era.”  (Mirzoeff 244). The Anthropocene era we live in today is a very serious period in time and the issue environmental sustainability needs to be viewed with much more global awareness than in prior periods of human history.

Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky records and documents extraordinary photographs that put into perspective how much destruction we humans are causing to the Earth.

On the 20th of June, 2010 there was a devastating oil spill in the gulf of Mexico. This photo taken by Burtynsky on the 24th of June does an exceptional job of  showcasing the catastrophic damage the spill did to our ocean. Mirzoeff would consider this particular scene an “Anthropocene landscape”  (Mirzoeff 244) meaning destruction to the planet, caused by humans, trying to pursue their needs.

Extinction among species is becoming more frequent - it is an obvious change to our planet. Humans are considered to be the most dominant species on the planet. Therefore it is also our responsibility to care and look after our planet and all that inhabit it.

This photo was taken by Photographer Steve Dawson off the West Coast of New Zealand. The Maui dolphin (Cephalorhynchus Hectori Maui) is a species very close to extinction. Set netting is a fishing method involving anchoring a net to the sea floor with weights. According to the Ministry for Primary Industries certain rules apply for using set nets such as, “Nets must not be baited. “Nets must not exceed 60 meters in length. “No person may set or possess more than one set net. Although there are numerous more rules that apply to set netting in New Zealand this is one of the principle threats for the Maui dolphin. These mammals are struggling for survival due to the unnecessary needs of humans. “It is predicted with the current decline in the Maui population, that they could be extinct within the next 15 years.”  (Burns). This quote goes to show we as a species must realise the impact of our actions and how it affects other species that we share this planet with.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (NO2) and Fluorinated gases are all examples of Greenhouse gases that when once trapped in the atmosphere start to produce heat. Each individual gas has an effect on the climate due to three specific main factors: 1. How much of these gases remain in the atmosphere 2. How long they remain in the atmosphere 3. How strongly they impact the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emissions have become a very serious global issue. We as a species are producing far too much greenhouse gases, resulting in a changing climate.

Modern living and the desire for comfort and aesthetics is a growing trend in the world. As emerging economies develop more wealth people desire more consumables and luxury items. This modern way of living however is not  sustainable for our planet. Our enjoyment in modern living is blinding us from the actual problems it creates. We need to consider how those items are produced, transported, recycled or not and the cost in terms of excessive carbon emissions. We must start to look at the bigger picture. Mirzoeff clearly states, “When the world is changing, it makes little sense to measure results nation by nation. We have to think in terms of cause and effect planet-wide, meaning we have to relearn how to see the world as a whole.” (Mirzeoff 237). We need to address the desire for modern living in such a way that we are also acting sustainably. Things such as food production, building design, transportation systems can all be enhanced so they meet our needs but also are not detrimentally impacting our environment. Finding this balance should be our overriding concern.

Young people develop routines and ways of conduct inherited from previous generations. We  need to adopt the role of environmental custodians so it becomes second nature to us as a species. Food, shelter and warmth are essentials for basic living but developing nations need to add sustainability as a key element of everyday living. On going education is important as it is easy to conveniently forget, or ignore the impact of our actions on the greater world. We need to ensure people have a genuine desire to become protectors of our planet.

In conclusion, we should be striving for a world where environmental impact is understood and has much more significance in our decision making. We need to learn and understand that as a species, we need to come together and agree that climate change is real and is happening within our societies today. The three steps that are vital for this sustainable world are: 1. Seeing the change that is undergoing. 2. Addressing that change in a much more sustainable way for the planet and ourselves. 3. Educating future generations in a much more effective way.

We need to understand that these three vital steps will contribute to creating an understanding that if we continue on this path it will be to the demise of our planet.

By Ben McCulloch

bibliography:

Mirzoeff, Nicholas. “The Changing World.” How to See the World, Penguin Random House UK , 2015, pp. 219 - 244.

Environmental Protection Agency. “Overview Of Greenhouse Gases.” EPA, 4 May 2017, https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases

Dawson, Steve. Maui’ dolphin, family close to New Zealand. 2 December 2013, Photograph, Green Global Travel, https://greenglobaltravel.com/maui-dolphin/.

Ministry for Primary Industries. “Fishing methods.” MPI, 3 May 2017, https://www.mpi.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/fishing/fishing-methods/

Burtynsky, Edward. Oil Spill #4. June 24, 2010, Photograph, EDWARD BURTYNSKY, http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/site_contents/Photographs/Water.html

[thefollyflaneuse]

From Crystal Palace to Crystal Pinnacle: an ambitious idea.

Although initially mocked in some quarters as Prince Albert’s ‘folly’, the 1851 Great Exhibition in Hyde Park was a triumph. But the agreement had always been that the great glass gallery, which had become known as the ‘Crystal Palace’, would be removed after the fair was over, and the parkland setting then restored. But as the Earl of Carlisle wrote when that time approached, ‘the destruction of…

[thefollyflaneuse]

Hail, Castle Howard!

Hail, Castle Howard! Hail, Vanbrugh’s noble dome Where Yorkshire in her splendour rivals Rome!

Thus wrote John Betjeman in a poem composed for Bird’s-Eye View: The Englishman’s Home, a documentary scripted and mellifluously-narrated by Betjeman, which was first shown on BBC2 in April 1969. Many great houses are featured in the film, but a highlight for the Folly Flâneuse is Castle Howard, in…