From this point forward the bear pictured above will be referred to as “Lake Bear” (I choose this title because it does not constrict the abstract thought, but still guides the perspective of the viewer).
Lake Bear: A Vibrant Matter
Objects are truly significant forms of human expression. An object may be used to portray an everlasting love to a partner either through rings or a marriage license. An object could demonstrate the accomplishments that have been made by way of a diploma or degree. Objects can illicit distinct feelings, invite speculation, or divide communities. Though these observations raise a question that deserves to be pondered: do these objects, these things, provoke individual effects in us because of our own personal backgrounds? Or do they themselves represent their own lively nature that calls to all intentionally (Bennett, 4-5)? Consider the gun that was used to kill Trayvon Martin in 2012. This gun was auctioned off and closed at a price of $138,900. The idea of the the gun was nothing special, yet the experience of the gun formed a desire, its exuberant nature required that it be valued so highly.
In the case of Lake Bear, I have attempted to create an origin story, using both my cultural and personal experiences. Let us first consider the visual nature of Lake Bear and how the physical representation almost implores us to seek out the reasoning behind the (perceived) abandonment. Lake Bear appears to be a little worse for wear, almost as if it has been in Apocalypse Park for several months. Although Lake Bear still maintains its form, there are clear signs of dirt, matted fur, and a faded color. What looks to be a scarf is really a plastic bag wrapping around its neck. This plastic toxicity reminds us of the impact we have and how some animals (such as sea turtles or penguins) are negatively effected. There are red hearts on the fur that may suggest Lake Bear was a romantic gesture, either cast away in a rage, or unfortunately dropped into the glassy waters of Apocalypse Park. Lake Bear emanates the concept of vibrant matter and how we react and grow attached to certain items. Yet if Lake Bear was a romantic gesture, why is it that it was not retrieved? Could we atone this abandonment to Mary Douglas’ concept of dirt? Is Lake Bear now too unclean to express romance? Could the availability of stuffed bears play a role in the choice of retrieval? If Lake Bear was a model of only 20 made, should there be more desire to save it? Now we begin to pay credence to the individuality of thing value, whereas Lake Bear has its own sense of thing power, its value will drastically change from person to person.