Artistic Footprint

Relativity.

Einstein’s two theories on relativity are combined to relate space and time, a strangely philosophical scientific theory. My idea of relativity is more of human and less of science, but has little to do with Einstein. “Life is relative” Regardless of our genetic similarities, every human has a totally unique mind, and from birth developes a spacial, relatable concept of the world using their five known senses. This amounts to things larger than grouped ideas about theology, nationalism, or political or economic systems. Have you ever thought that what you see as the pigment of blue might be a completely different pigment to someone else? for example, a pink and blue maple tree. But they’ve had those pigment differences since birth, and those arrangements look natural. The same must apply for time, culture, values both numerically and morally, and spacial sense.

Time: To many, we don’t have enough of it. Life is too short and we must make each second worthwhile. To some, life is too long. Things aren’t working out and we’d just like the pain to end. Some have abolished the invention of time as a whole and live their lives freely. Some categorize the history of mankind as one generation, another perhaps dates as far back as the industrial revolution or medieval times. Others see history as time from the very beginning to now, and occasionally have the mental capability to make it relative and answer the “how did this happen?” with stunning perspective.

Value: What makes us valuable? How do we make our lives valuable? We’ve numerically calculated value with GDP and dollars, but this is merely an invention, and really has nothing to do with value. A teddy bear can be more valuable than the home it sits in, yet the dollar value and time spent obtaining such commodities is incomparible. True, inherent values are those which make time better used to add value to our lives. And of course, those values to one person may be the dollars and the salaries. To others its the fine wines and ballet concerts. To some it’s the notches on their belts and the lives in their grasps. Perhaps the size of a family and large home-cooked meals, or a collection of photos from countless adventures. To many, it’s the closeness of death that adds value.

Time with little value is wasted time – a long time
Time with much value is used time – a short time.

With added value, time decreases. “time flies when you’re having fun”

Spacial sense: No number exists without a value. You don’t just have the number three or 30. You have three apples or 30km. And again those numerical values mean nothing if you haven’t experienced them. You don’t know what 3 apples looks like in comparison to one, just like you don’t know how far 30km is, let alone travelled that distance. What you would describe as a “long distance” say, across town, would be a small increment of another’s concept of distance, because they are used to longer travels, say – across a country. But even then, that is infinitely small in comparison to an astronomer’s concept of distance, measured in light years. Could you relate to a light year? Can you look at two stars through a telescope and say: “oh yea that one’s about 3 light years, and the other one is about 70.” Even if you could, does it make sense in your mind? This is the reason why we don’t understand what some people are talking about. It literally is a different language between minds, regardless of the international concept of numbers. Everything you sense, be it speed, distance, brightness, loudness, texture, palatteability, good and evil, is relative to your mind, and coincidentally is relatable to your species. Specifically those that think the same way you do. It is the same reason why a picasso is a work of genius to one group of people vs. a hideous combination of colour and shape to others. Because their minds do not agree.

In retrospect, ticking clocks, dollar signs, and numerical values are a true language invented by us, and used to relate to one another, but are organized too simply by us to be universal, and unaccomodating to the individual.