Faced with the blazing magnificence of the everyday, the artist is both humbled and provoked. There are photographs now of events on an unimaginable scale {...} When we look at these images, there is, yes, legitimate wonderment at our own lengthening reach and grasp. But it would be vain indeed to praise our puny handiwork--the mastery of the Hubble wielders, the computer enhancers, the colorizers, all the true-life-fantasist counterparts of Hollywood's techno-wizards and imagineers--when the universe is putting on so utterly unanswerable a show. Before the majesty of being, what is there to do but hang our heads?
In encountering the extraordinary beauty of the world, artists often feel a mix of humility and provocation. The vastness of events captured in photographs makes us marvel at our achievements in exploring and understanding the universe. This sense of wonder, however, can quickly turn to humility as we recognize that our creations pale in comparison to the grand spectacle presented by the cosmos.
Despite our technological advancements in photography and digital enhancement, acknowledging the universe's overwhelming splendor brings us back to a place of reverence. We may be skilled in crafting visually stunning images, yet when faced with nature's profound beauty, we are reminded of our limitations. Salman Rushdie conveys this sentiment, illustrating that in the presence of such magnificence, one can only bow in recognition of a grandeur that surpasses human capability.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
