A couple of things.
Watching an interview clip from Neil Young, I started thinking about freedom and the lack of it. Everyone trumpets “freedom of speech,” but there is also an equal and opposite freedom to be silent. Balancing the two is a problem. But more than that, I wonder about losing the “freedom to be wrong.” Most classroom environments tend to snatch that away from you, with little notice of its absence.
Robert Fripp wrote an excellent short introduction to a book of Tony Levin photographs, Road Photos. It creeps into my head at the strangest times. I woke up this morning with one line, (loosely quoted) “A photograph captures aspects of open significance.” The brilliant choice of words here makes this thoroughly packed with meaning. “Aspects” can refer to faces or facets—but it never refers to wholes. “Open” can also be spun through with indeterminate, because although a variety of readings can present themselves, none is comprehensive or exhaustive. But more than that, “open significance” tends to imply that the significance, that is, the status of a photograph as a sign is not fully formed. In short, a photograph is raw— an unfinished repository of aspects which may or may not be signs.
I begin to believe this, although I could be wrong.
