Nature is Sexy... Maybe? (On Visual Rhetoric)

Artwork is an example of visual rhetoric, and Jonathon Earl Bowser (a painter of goddesses), displays this with his pieces. Cox details the power of rhetoric, tropes (figures of speech to direct the meaning of something onto a new path for persuasive reasons), and metaphor. These tie in with visual rhetoric -- the capability of visual images and representations to affect public attitudes about the environment.

Bowser’s striking artwork showcases the link between women and nature. Often, these deities are facets of nature; for instance, Song of Deep Water (above) portrays a brunette whose trailing grown literally is water, as she forms magnificent waves with her hands. Other times, his goddesses are creators (see below).

Cloak of the Maternal Sky, illustrating a goddess pregnant with the universe.

What emotions arise when you look at such artwork? For me, I see metaphor in its purest form (these women could call be called Mother Earth). They are maidens or mothers, representing youthfulness and fertility. Never once does Bowser feature a crone, an old hag. (For those familiar with Wicca and other pagan denominations, you can see the force in this!)

What does this mean? Basically, women have long been symbolically associated with nature do to their creative properties, as is evident in the Paleolithic Age. But skipping out on the elder years is important to note. It expresses that nature is beautiful, like a woman in her late adolescence through her prime, and boiling with creative energy. This force weakens with age, becoming dull and vapid… much like a deforested area, a polluted water source, or a mountaintop removed for coal. These are harsh realities we choose to ignore, but they are there and must be acknowledged. And thus, our fantasy of nature as radiant and perfect, much like goddesses, is a mask over an “ugly” thing, like someone in their late years.

This is the ability of visual rhetoric. It shapes our perceptions and opinions on the environment.

What are other examples of visual rhetoric and metaphors you can think of? How has this phenomenon impacted you?

(NOTE TO JOHN: The above two images have been uploaded to ImageShack to prevent hot-linking, AKA bandwidth theft, which I've heard is illegal. Please regard that I am not intending to "rip off" Bowser's art.)