Driving back down from Pambula with Papa bear, I happened to have my camera with me to capture some typical Australian landscapes. It's really inspired me to photograph Australia in the next few years as the basis to a road trip.
Pambula beach.
Butter factory.
Dad's canine daughter, Dixie, aka Boof. She never stops smiling and is always looking for your hand to shake and then pat her.
One of eight newly wed couples in the USA in 2009 met through the Internet. Also according to YouTube video ‘Did you know,’ one in four of us have been at our current job for less than a year and, if Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world at 500 million people. What interested me most in this video though, was that there are 5,000 more words in existence now than when Shakespeare was putting his pen to work.
Our complex method of communication, our language, is one of our defining features as humans. It’s creation and development during the Stone Age was the beginning of our dominant development. Through hundreds of intricate languages we have been able to develop beyond any species present on the planet. But tell me, has our language developed for better or worse?
I wish I lived in Shakespeare’s age. For my writing’s sake that is, nothing else. He had 5,000 fewer words to choose from to create his subtle yet infinitely fundamental pieces of writing. It would have made writing so much easier; less options and variations. Given the large ideas he was trying to convey it’s no wonder he created over 900 of his own words and sayings.
Such creation is continuing in the 21st century. However, now words are not just being created but also used in a different manner. A Shakespeare ‘Tragedy’ usually involved at least a few deaths and acts of incest. Now it can relate to a football players torn hamstring. Being called ‘gay’ is no longer a complement on ones happiness but instead related to being or doing something uncool. Using the word ‘hate’ used to turn heads. Now it’s thrown around haplessly, as if it carries no significant meaning whatsoever.
LOL, ROFL, O-M-G, FYI and BT-dubs are all seemingly inexplicable acronyms thrown across the coffee tables of Melbourne and England between nearly every teenager. Our language has expanded and yet is being shortened. Our words are losing meaning while our breadth of expression is widening.
The consumer generation is taking hold on English. The exponential enlarging of information on the Internet is due to people’s unbridled license to upload their creative efforts. The number of literate people in Shakespeare’s era was so minor that highly paid jobs existed specifically for those who could simply read and write. Now we exist in an age where I, and millions others like me have our own website. Has this magnification of information, ideas and our language been for better or worse then?
Let’s bake a cake. A chocolate one. It’s only for you and no one else so it needn’t be large. We can buy some of the nicest ingredients and bake a precious little cake. We can enjoy each small bite and appreciate the intricate balance of flavours. Only nowadays, cakes have to be big. Have to contain lots of sugar and decorations. Need an example of the magnification of… everything? Go to the USA. In fact Americanisation is just down the street. Go check it out.
Back to the cake now. I’m going to bake you a cake. Would you like a big cake that is bland but there is plenty of? Or a small cake that is rich in flavour?
My point in all of this is everything is big now. We have become so accustomed to it that we are desensitised to what it is we are actually consuming. The volume is more of a focus than the flavour. The amount of words we use is now more of a concern than their meaning. The next time you are conversing, think about what you are saying before you say it. Deliberate their meaning. The effect they may have on the person you are speaking with. Most importantly, consider whether what you are saying is what you really want to say. Do you really ‘hate’ your parents? Do you actually think he’s ‘gay’?
Has our language developed for better or worse? It’s developed and that’s the grey area. The meanings of words have changed. Their origin and hence first meaning hasn’t though.
I’d choose a small rich cake any day.
(Photo: 'The Heavens,' Gothic Quarter, Barcelona, October 2010. Caelum is a Latin word meaning the heavens or sculptors chisel)
New road bike. The Great Ocean Road on my doorstep during the three days I was spending at a close mates beach house. Jacko and I made it an intent of ours to workout consistently while we were down there. David, my stepdad, had told me the best time to ride was early. This suggestion was followed by a chuckle and smile at the fact that I'd never get up early enough to take advantage of the deserted roads. Possibly true!
But no longer, here we are enjoying the views and sea breeze of the Great Ocean Road. Up at 6am, on the road by 6.20, it was a beautiful morning and a stretch of road I couldn't resist photographing. The lake in Anglsea, our destination, was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Training partner. Brother. Swedish Twin. School mate. Sports team mate. Europe backpacking compatriot. Now beach house host and road bike coach. Jacko.
I'd just showered and there I was covered in sand. Lying on the beach, I was doing my best to capture the image I had before me within the piece of metal, glass and plastic in my hands. The sun descends quickly, especially when you're trying to take pictures at dusk! I was gifted the beach light from the caravan park for a focal point and assistance though. My caravan is just a few down from the ones featured in the images.
We haven't spoken in a while. I'm sorry. I'm back in AUS now as most are well aware, given the last post. Back in Melbourne? Not so much. For some reason I've been doing my utmost to stay away and I guess finally submit back to my hometown and that for at least the moment, there will be no big travel plans.
Pambula is just the place to come back down to earth and reintegrate with the family. Solid runs along the beach, swims and bike rides along with some relaxing drinks and reading are all the order of events. Oh and a mini golf game or two with Hannah Bear.
Lorne. Three Days. New Years Eve to top it all off. There's plenty of 'rowdy' photos from the actual partying but considering the drive home was the most soothing and picturesque part of the trip, I decided to put these shots up first. When I've got more time I'll be scouting out the Great Ocean Road for more spots to shoot, of which I know there are many, and taking the time to do it justice.
Here's a few quick snaps with Jensen who I gave a lift home.
