In “Arts of the Contact Zone”, Mary Louise Pratt defines intact zones as “the space in which transmutation takes place ? where two different cultures meet and inform each other, often in highly asymmetrical ways. ” Both “Arts of the Contact Zone” and David Abraham’s “Animism and the Alphabet” attempt to form an interpretation between the relationship of our natural environment and our everyday lives. According to both the authors writing, Prate’s concept of contact zone is useful in helping us become better acquainted With our natural ally ? the environment. Pratt definition of contact zone can be applied to our everyday lives.
A contact one is a comparison Of the differences between two clashing cultures or ideas in general. In “Animism and the Alphabet”, Bra-m believes the environment and civilization are of these so-called competing cultures because both attempt to communicate with one another. In his writing, Socrates and Bedspread’s have a heated debate on whether or not humans have the ability to adapt these so. Called different cultures. As mentioned, one culture was to “ponder the tree from outside to its world” and the other was to ponder “trot outside of the world in which both oneself and the tree were active participants” (45).
According to Socrates, nature does not offer him a worthwhile amount to knowledge as compared to the bountiful bank of knowledge within his city’s stonewalls, Phaedra, on the other hand, believes in the opposing culture. He believes “nature itself is articulate; it speaks” (45). In attempt to apply contact zone to history, Pratt goes in detail into the story of Gunman Pomp – an Inca man who believed the Inca and Spanish civilizations could coexist to form a more superior culture. Acting upon this belief, he proceeded to write a letter to convince King Phillip Ill of Spain.
However, his letter was disregarded due to the Spanish belief that Incas were academically inferior. In a way, the environment is similar to Pomp’s letter _ The nature surrounding us everyday is constantly attempting to communicate with us humans for the better Of both cultures. However, like King Phillip Ill Of Spain, we refuse to accept help due to, like Socrates, believing nature is inferior. Living in today’s society, it’s no wonder we believe so. Brick by man-made brick added to our communities, we grow further and further from our natural selves.
We have come more akin to slabs of concrete than the beautiful animate trees and flowers growing underneath our toes, The analogy between the contact zone of our environment and civilization is useful. We can use it to reevaluate our lives: How is nature serving humankind? And, how is humankind serving nature? In retrospect, humans may not be contributing to nature in the same measures as the environment is for us. We pollute the earth with our culture’s technology. Despite the earth’s cries for help – the atmosphere choking and species extinction ? we continue because we are enable, or maybe unwilling, to listen.
At this rate, we will destroy the land we are walking on until it’s inhabitable. Based on Pratt “Arts of the Contact Zone”, the most noteworthy of contact zones is ethnographers text. She believed ethnographers text is “a text in which people undertake to describe themselves in ways that engage with representations others have made of them. ” In order words, the text is a person’s opinion of themselves with the input of others. Ethnographers text – or the lack of – can be seen in the natural world. An example is natural tragedies, such s volcanoes eruptions and hurricanes.
Nature does not take into consideration our attempts to stop these disasters. The most we can do is try. In order to take full advantage of ethnographers text we are given everyday, we can try to listen more intently and take action more effectively. A problem with translating the natural messages this world contains into language we can understand is accuracy. After all, what human can actually understand the music of the rain and the barks of dogs? The most we can do is infer. The bits and pieces of nature we breathe in everyday is aids our wellbeing.
Listening to the language of the culture of nature enables us to make better decisions in our lives. The wet surface of the earth outside your house signals you to bring an umbrella – Which will prevent you from becoming vet and catching a cold. The scent of flowers in the air sets off a sneezing fit reminding you to take your allergy medication. However, people Will not always understand the hints nature dishes out to us. An example is the signs of global warming, Which has not procured enough awareness in our population. Despite inconsistencies in our translations, we continue to try. We continue to live.
