Persistence Of Memory

What is the significance of a work of art? Some may ask this question, well the answer is simple. Art, in simplest terms, is communication of the common story, art is a tool used to bring us all together as humans so we can interpret ideas or concepts that seems abstract. Art is important because it allows us to understand each other. Perhaps one of the most influential artist of the 20th century was Salvador Dali. Dali was a Spanish surrealist-artist in the early 1900s, he is best known for his striking and bizarre images in his art work. Dali's most popular work of art is "The Persistence of Memory," this is among the most viewed artworks of all-time. The reason why this painting in particular, is significant is because it can be interpreted

In the painting, "The Persistence of Memory," there are a number of different events happening simultaneously. For instance, if we look at each of the clocks, there are three in the frame, and every one of them appears to be melted. One of the ways in which this can be interpreted is by the clocks melting, this is a representation of the speed of time while an individual is in a dream-like state. In the reading "Metaphors we Live By," by the writers of Lakoff and Johnson, the authors talk about the idea of oriental metaphors. To summarize, the article is about the use of metaphor and its importance in everyday life, the way we use it, and how metaphor can be interpreted. Oriental metaphors are used to describe emotions and feelings. For example, if someone is happy, they are considered to be "up." The authors of the reading say, "Such metaphorical orientations are not arbitrary." (Lakoff, Johnson 14). Oriental metaphors specifically focus on physical appearance (Lakoff Johnson 13), so if one were to apply oriental metaphor to the painting one could interpret the melted clocks as depressing. In the case of this painting, if the clocks are depressing in a dream-like state it would not be wrong to assume that the dreamer depicted in this painting is having a nightmare or an uneasy sleep. Another way that visual metaphor can interpret this painting is that clocks in fact just represent time. World famous

Another article that gives us a better understanding of visual Metaphor is the article titled "Magic and the Brain," by the authors of Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen L. Macknik. In summation, the article is about how visual phenomenon such as magic tricks, can fool the audience into thinking something happened even though in reality it seems impossible. This article is important in understanding visual metaphor, which will help us understand "The Persistence of Memory." The red pocket clock in the painting is getting eaten by ants, from what we already know from oriental metaphor, this alludes to Dali's interpretation of time and how abstract the concept