As I begin to do research on a short dance film I am producing, I am delving into “time.” The images I’ve shared here show the location of where the dance film will be shot. If you live in St. Petersburg, you most likely know it is the St. Petersburg Pier. I chose this location because of the shadows the sun and pier structure cast as time passes. When standing below the opening and looking up, one can witness a beautiful show of the sun, moon, stars, clouds, rain, etc. – all elements of time and nature.
I have been interested in learning more about what Quantum physics has proven about “time.” The question is, is time linear or circular? The answer is both. Time exists in the linear and circular dimensions.
For physical matter, time is linear. There is a beginning and an end. As physical beings aware of our body and mind, time spans linearly from birth to death.
Other forms of matter exist in a cyclical structure. For example, a block of ice may melt into liquid and then evaporate as vapor. This vaper can then condense back into the solid form creating a circular pattern of existence.
Human awareness, in connection with the body and mind, traps the physical body into a linear dimension between birth and death. Energy, which has no birth or death may be similar to the state of awareness when detached and independent of the body and mind. Detached awareness is possible by way of witnessing without identifying with thoughts. Observing the movement of the mind and thoughts from the viewpoint of a third person can lead us to an experience of purer states of awareness which blunts the linearity of time.
I find this all fascinating and also hard to wrap my mind around accomplishing. I am not sure how scientific I will get with this film but it is an avenue I am exploring. I am also writing down what comes to mind immediately when thinking about the traits of “time.” Here is what I have so far:
TIME…
is forgiving
heals
changes one’s perspective
allows growth
is plenty
runs out (or does it?)
can be hurried
cannot be erased
divides then, now, and what’s to come
challenges
changes pace
To end, I found a beautiful quote from Albert Einstein that encompasses my thoughts for this project:
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
~ Albert Einstein
