'Our body is not in space like things; it inhabits or haunts space. It applies itself to space like a hand to an instrument, and when we wish to move about we do not move the body as we move an object. We transport it without instruments as if by magic, since it is ours and because through it we have direct access to space. For us the body is much more than an instrument or a means; it is our expression in the world, the visible form of our intentions. Even our most secret affective movements, those most deeply tied to the humeral infrastructure, help to shape our perception of things.'
- Maurice Merleau-Ponty
2 comments:
Hey Rie. I really don't wanna pull this beautiful quote apart but i had to to kinda understand it so I've copied and pasted it and will go along and then my thoughts will seem clearer (in brackets)- hopefully.
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'Our body is not in space like things;(things? - man made objects?) it inhabits or haunts space (cool - o.k). It applies itself to space like a hand to an instrument (right, so just as someone would pluck the strings of a guitar, creating different spaces anyway and sounds, the way we move creates different shifts in space?), and when we wish to move about we do not move the body as we move an object(Though that's kinda funny if you imagine it). We transport it without instruments as if by magic (im having trouble here, so in other words - there is nothing playing us? covering us,plucking us or pulling us - what about strong gale force winds?), since it is ours and because through it we have direct access to space (what about strong winds?). For us the body is much more than an instrument or a means (o.k cool); it is our expression in the world, the visible form of our intentions (totally understand that - i guess even deceptive moves?). Even our most secret affective movements (like cutting our toenails?), those most deeply tied to the humeral (ang on - humeral humeral - ah humeral 1;Pertaining to or located in the region humerous-arm bone type thing- or shoulder.2; Pertaining to or designating a body part analogues, eh -oh similar in function? to the humerous) infrastructure (oh i see have to re-read - things most tied to our mechanical movements?), help to shape our perception of things.'
(o.k, so the last bit lost me a little, things tied up with mechanical movements such as picking up an object, help to shape our perception of things - crickey - i get it- sorry about that. ) hmm very clever. I don't think we're as ghostly as this quote suggests, or as free willed, although that's how we're meant such natural occurences, weather, illness etc stop us from gaining an 'accurate' perception as do other people who constrain us in other ways.
this is a difficult one - i'd call this 'Willing a free-willed perception' i think?
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your comments.
I like the way you've pulled it apart (as if by magic?), particularly the part about gales force winds (or in general, natural elements 'taking over'....)
I'm going to see if I can add a new post to this blog that challenges that, I guess.
Watch that space!
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