The Importance of Interpretation

I really enjoyed what we talked about in class today. I think Pollock’s artwork suggests that religion can be recognized not only through association w/ the common motifs we have discussed in class (social cohesion, narrative), but also through an innate sense. Even without knowing the title of the painting we studied in class, most felt it was related to religion. Pollock’s work resurfaced an issue that was talked about on Monday (in reference to the film). Is it possible to exist without the religiously influenced framework we have developed throughout our course? Pollock’s work does not present a mechanism that an average person can understand or interpret. Despite the ambiguous and undecipherable meanings of many of his paintings, individual interpretation served a marked purpose. Christianity and other organized religions many times construct a black and white philosophy for its followers to uphold. Pollock presents just the opposite.

Pollock’s work reminds me of the music I listen to. James Mercer, the leader singer of The Shins, writes lyrics that are meaningful only to him (someone mentioned in class that Pollock had a special meaning for each painting). Two years ago I met James Mercer, and asked him about his lyrical techniques (which I had been trying to decipher). I was right about some of his influences, but most of the lyrics are relevant to his own life. Ironically enough, each song he writes seems to relate to me in some way. Pollock’s art and the music from the Shins are an example of how common framework is not necessary to understand religion. Sometimes you have to craft your own ideas of spirituality in a way to is most prevalent to your own life. Individual interpretations of art and music lead to different social/cultural groups and fraternity. A set mechanism for existence is not always an initial necessity. Developing individual mechanisms are equally powerful tools for social cohesion. People who share a similar view of Pollock or James Mercer’s song lyrics grow together and work off each others individual interpretations to develop of collective mechanism for understanding. Artwork and music are excellent examples that depict the power of individualistic interpretation.