Within the current homogeneity of society, man has placed itself above nature. In a contemporary capitalist society this type of anthropocentric attitude has detached a large number of people from the core elements of nature. We buy ‘clean’ water from the supermarket and domesticate plants in pots with soil we bought at the gardening store. Which is somewhat of a paradox seeing how these natural ingredients need to be protected from the same hand that pollutes them.
I will be using soil, as my primary element and subject matter.
I believe that our relationship to anything is influenced by language. As myths are based on human history, according to Barthes, it becomes interesting to look at the semantics of ‘Soil’ to map the historical meaning making process. I will be using this hot-glue page to make a timeline of the different meanings of soil and their changes across history.
Social Context
SOIL
early 13c., "to defile or pollute with sin," from Old French soillier "to splatter with mud, to foul or make dirty
c. 1300, originally "land, area, place," from Anglo-French soil "piece of ground, place" (13c.), from a merger or confusion of Old French sol "bottom, ground, soil"
How have societies viewed Soil?
The new EU soil strategy for 2030 sets out a framework and concrete measures to protect and restore soils, and ensure that they are used sustainably. It sets a vision and objectives to achieve healthy soils by 2050, with concrete actions by 2030.
Early 13th Century
13th Century
Future: 2030
40,000 years ago.
Soils are ignored in
cave paintings
The Bible: Genesis
the whole of humanity is “soil”. In fact, Adam (meaning “soil” in Hebrew) was created from red dust and
returned back to it.
Created from "Soil"
If "Soil is filthy, then what is Man?
OWNERSHIP of nature
Man above nature
Man disgusted by their
own behaviour towards nature
PRE-WESTERN COLONIALISM
Asase Ye Duru can be directly translated to mean “the earth has weight”. This symbol represents the importance of the Earth in sustaining life. It depicts power, providence and divinity. It is of absolute importance that we take care of the earth to leave a safer, cleaner and sustainable environment for the coming generations.
GHANA: ASESE YE DURU
1870 -1932
Soil is divine. It takes care of us and so we take care of it. Comes form
Mother Earth = Woman
Man is from nature
Greek Mythology
Prometheus shaped man out of mud, and Athena breathed life into the clay figure. Prometheus made man stand upright as the gods did and gave him fire. To punish him, Zeus created Pandora, the first woman, of stunning beau- ty, wealth, and a deceptive heart and lying tongue.
Only Man not Woman was shaped out of Mud
Observation
Within the Western context, whether Greek Mythology or Christianity, Man was made of Clay or Soil. With man, it is implied that Man vs Woman were created differently.
And as contemporary society evolves so does the Western narrative of 'Soil' in which it is associated with Dirt, and later claimed as a form of ownership.
Attitudes towards Nature
According to Mathijs Schouten, humans develop different attitudes towards nature. He distinguishes four types of attitudes.
1. Man as Ruler (above nature)
2. The Renter (borrowing)
3. The Partner (partnership with nature)
4. The Participant (as part of nature)
Meaning-Making
"In psychology, meaning-making is the process of how people construe, understand, or make sense of life events, relationships, and the self. It’s also a way of exploring signs and symbols within communications, a field of study referred to as semiotics."
We implement the meaning of existing words and let it guide our interpretation of the world around us. These existing definitions influence our attitude towards nature, and thus also the way we treat it.
In this glossary I would like to experiment with different word combinations that deconstruct existing words/concepts and replaces them from a non patriarchal and decolonial paradagim.
GLOSSARY
UBUNTU