On Longing by Susan Stewart Visual/Auditory Responses

On Longing by Susan Stewart

Visual and Auditory Responses 

1) "The body is the primary mode of perceiving scale".

• The comparison between the heigh and size of the live girl to the dolls she stands with give the viewer an idea of the true scale of the dolls. Most of us can imagine an estimated height of the young girl because we've witnessed our own selves at that height and have seen children in daily life who resemble the height of the girl as well. We use our knowledge of human form and size to understand the scale of the dolls she holds. This allows the viewer to put scale into perspective using the body as the primary mode of understanding.

2) "The souvenir reduces the public, the monumental and the three-dimensional into the miniature, that which can be enveloped by the body".

• Choosing the Empire State Building necklace felt slightly cliche, but after some thought, I realized it entire embodied the above statement. By wearing the necklace, a person may feel entirely tied to a place (NYC) that once meant a great deal to them. This allows for a person to be "enveloped" by the miniature which hangs from their necklace.

3) "Nostalgia cannot be sustained without loss".

• Sonny and Cher are a prime example of nostalgia sustained from loss. Not only is their music missed by society, but their presence together is also missed. Viewing their performance via Youtube, one grows to feel nostalgic as their passions for each other and music pulsate off the screen. The knowledge of the death of Sonny evokes a somber emotion reminiscent of nostalgia as one glances upon a happy memory of the couple together.

4) "To have a souvenir of the exotic is to possess both a specimen and a trophy".

• My own collection of shark's teeth is a trophy and series of specimens within itself. They are exotic to me because being from New Jersey, I never found shark's teeth growing up as a child and for majority of my teenage life. After moving to Florida, my shark's teeth became my own souvenir and personal trophy of living in this new place. 

5) "The place of origin must remain unavailable in order for desire to be generated".

• The most mystical place in my mind are the great depths of the sea. It takes time, practice, and knowledge to be given the opportunity to deep sea dive which makes this place such a mystery to me. My desire of one day witnessing for myself is held strong because of the constant curiosity of the unknown depths of the ocean.