The Art of Mirrors - Psychological Reflections

Описание: The Artistic Philosophy of Mirrors – Psychological Reflections

#borges #socialmedia #artphilosophy

Mirrors have fascinating psychological and philosophical implications. This video deals with the double meaning of “reflection”. It contrasts the conceptual notion of the word – “to reflect upon” – found in art, with the empty repetition of social media’s endless reflections of essentially the same thing – recent example being the mindless self-exposure of Bop House.

Multiple forms of art are drawn upon to provide examples including: the plays of Shakespeare; the paintings of Rene Magritte, Claude Monet, and M. C. Esher; the writing of Jorge Luis Borges.

The ultimate emptiness of social media is explored using two poems and a short story about mirrors by the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges. I expand upon the notion of the “Double Bind” explained in previous videos to argue that the media produces a dispiriting trap of permanently oscillating meaning – empty reflections. Art, by contrast, allows us to actively reflect upon life’s frame of reference.

An excellent philosophical essay by the classical scholar Jacob Rowland on Borges and his fascination with mirrors can be found here:
@https://newcriterion.com/article/borg...

The Borges short story “Covered Mirrors” can be found here:
@https://biblioklept.org/2019/05/05/co...

The specific translation of “Mirrors” used in the video can be found here:
@ https://darenjonescu.com/mirrors-by-j...
This translation also includes an excellent article on the art of translation in general, and the specific challenges of translating this particular poem.

If you are further interested in this topic I thoroughly recommend Douglas Hofstadter’s fascinating book about the complexity of translation - “Le Ton Beau de Marot”:
@https://philosophynow.org/issues/20/L...

For the sake of comparison, a more “official” translation of “Mirrors” can be found here:
@ https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents...
Credits:
Man photographing himself in bathroom mirror:
@https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Michael Ayrton’s work can be found here:
@https://www.keithchapmansculpture.com...