Walking blog: The philosophy of walking

Shapes within nature

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  on Monday, 19 April 2010 09:39

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The anthropomorphism of nature. What are the trees saying?

Tree on the right (she, pointing) is saying “the shops are that way”.

He (with hands in pockets, shrugs and then mumbles) “pub’s over there”.

I know that many rock formations and stacks along the Cornwall coast are named after what their shape suggests. As an example there’s animal shapes like the Elephant rock at Bossiney near Tintagel or people like Dr Syntax’s head, near Lands End.

Anthropomorphism, the interpretation of nature, mainly animals to reflect the human condition which negates and denies the animals own innate meaning. We are brought up to take this as normal if you think of the innumerable talking animals in our film and TV childhood, taken to new heights (or depths depending on how you view the humanizing of all creatures) with the computerized emotions of any modern animal animation.

Harmless fun? Another step towards the ever increasing disengagement with real nature? Well I was never lulled into the false sense of security of thinking that I could hug a bear in the wild just because I had a bed full of the small cuddly variety. No anthropomorphism is harmless on the whole. The complete disengagement of humanity with nature is far more serious and a different subject altogether.

So have a bit of fun. The two trees in the picture. What’s the caption? What are they saying to each other? Answers on a postcard……ok in a text.