I keep writing about reality because I think our current culture (North America and what’s called the West) has accepted the idea that our human intellect can change reality according to our ideas, imaginations, and theories. Transhumanism comes to mind first, but there are other examples. Our knowledge of physical reality that has led to our increasing ability to manipulate this reality has developed the thought that any ideas we have can certainly be turned into reality. As if reality can be manipulated simply because we can imagine it.
It used to be that science was the discovery of natural laws – the rules that make reality and us behave in our specific way. That reality was one whole – not separated from humans and subjected to humans, but reality together with humans inside it. Today it seems we stand outside of reality and command it to do our wishes. What is the problem with that? I don’t think it works. Why?
I was a thirteen-year-old in Bulgaria when the Berlin Wall fell and all socialist governments in Eastern Europe toppled with it. I remember the initial euphoria of many, the confusion and anger of others. As social and economic conditions began to deteriorate and more and more information became available about the past of the socialist regime, I remember the devastation of so many honest hardworking people who had believed those ideas. They had dedicated their entire lives to something that turned out to be a lie. Even the most sincere intentions and hard work couldn’t turn those ideas into reality. The theory of Marx and Lenin has been tried and failed. Only small partial elements of socialism could be argued to be successful in certain conditions. We, humans, can have theories and desires about everything, but the world around us has solid rules about what it can and can’t do.
It was much later in life I could verbalize what I learned in those early teenage years. Watching the sad faces and slumped shoulders of people waiting in line for hours for daily necessities, I realized reality has a way of being I can’t control and I don’t want to live in a fantasy world. The nature of reality plus my actions equals a specific outcome. I don’t control both sides of the equation. If my actions or wishes don’t align with reality, I’m not guaranteed a desired outcome. I decided I will do my best to discover how reality behaves and be honest about it and about myself.
I have applied the same thought to art. Art has a natural way of being and behaving. Understanding and applying this way leads to truly successful and meaningful art.
