Ever since seeing these pictures, I've been thinking about how those two feelings are intertwined.
I am really, sincerely, 100% afraid of dying. I've convinced myself that I won't, that before my time comes 'they'll' have figured out some way to avoid it. Yes, I would want to live forever.
I really didn't want to look at the pictures, but I couldn't stop myself. And then I did more than just look...I actually studied them - the befores and afters and the imaginary inbetweens.
I most identify with Gerda, who is to me by far the most distressing, yet at the same time, most honest.
And so what is it that makes me stare at these pictures, that makes me want to understand each and every one of them, that wonders why so many of them are women, that finds them so incredibly beautiful yet also can't-sleep-scary?
I don't know the answers, but the questions make me understand that the duality of the emotions can't possibly be unique to this set of photographs. Of course the two coexist in other realms of life and art.
So, what else? What other aspects of our existences are motivated by fear? Are we simply obsessed with being afraid? And, is it okay? So what if we're driven by what scares us? Maybe that's the way we'll conquer it all in the end...?
7 comments:
Wow. I don't have any answers to your questions, but those pictures were creepy. And compelling. What a project.
You generated some insightful questions and someone much smarter than me will have to answer them.
The pictures were difficult for me and I had stop after looking at just a few.
There was a great book that I seen once called famous last words and thats all it was was the last words that people through time had said.
Alas its the one thing we all get to do, I hope to be awake for it. Why would one want to sleep through something you only ever get to do once... ;)
Cheers.
Rice.
I'm not sure if i'm odd or not, but dying doesn't scare me all that much. the pain and suffering that comes before dying and the thought of leaving my loved ones behind in anguish are what scare me the most. As many people say, dying is just another part of living.
These pictures were reminders to me that, you know, you only really get one shot at this whole 'living' thing. regardless of when that time comes for me, I hope that I can look back on my life and say it was a happy one. and really, that's what we're in control RIGHT NOW.
so go out there and be happy! have fun! live your life to the fullest so that when your time comes you say, "yeah, I'm sad that it's over, but DAMN was that a great ride." personally, I think THAT'S the key to conquering the fear...
I use to get freaked out by death, for a good 5 or 6 years I would say I it dominated my thoughts, but I don't worry about it much anymore. It's going to happen. You can't stop it. And either or are you going to be aware (ie afterlife) or you're not (no afterlife) so either way you're in a win/win.
That being said, did you see that 20/20 last week on living forever? Try to catch the rerun, some pretty interesting stuff as to how science may be able to prolong life forever...
that's an amazing photo gallery. thanks for sharing it.
I hope it continues to remind me that nothing is permanent and to not take a single thing, or person, for granted. ever.
Thank you so much for sharing that. Absolutely amazing.
I, for one, am not afraid. It will happen, I can't avoid it.
But I've avoided squandering my life and have made sure that my wife and son are well taken care of in case my passing is early.
But I look forward to a long wonderful life with both.
Living.
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