Can an earthquake be considered 'Sublime'?
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7 comments:
'The sublime' is defined as "a character of greatness", beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation." From this, and my own personal understanding of it.
I would say that an earthquake is an example of the sublime. Though it may represent a form of tragedy, a form of interruption on a massive scale, in our everyday, worldy routine and how we live our lifes, it is still an element of nature.
I would consider all of nature to be a part of the sublime. To think the world around us, has come to being over millions of years of evolution of which we've had a great impact on in the last few decades, but is simply insignificant in the larger time scale.
Earthquakes represent something unpredictable, and out of our own control - as well as our own depth of understanding. Though we may have evolved to great extents of intellectual knowledge and capacity to be able to read signs of earthquake happenings nothing has ever been made absolutely concrete. The same goes for other parts of nature from as simple as predicting the weather.
I think earthquakes represent that mystery and tragedy that leaves us rapt in awe at its magnitude that allows it to be a thing of 'The Sublime'
As discussed in our literature lesson, the "sublime" is anything that encapsulates rare beauty and evokes strong emotions in an individual. But even more, the definition of it varies from one individual to another and many great minds in literature have had their own perspective on the subject. Taking all of that into account, for me, earthquakes aren't sublime.
Yes, they are majestic rare occurrences in nature and can evoke feelings of terror in all of us. I can see how some may find their unpredictability and powerfulness to be sublime but for me, there are other criteria that aren't met. For instance, I do not think that earthquakes are something "beyond beautiful" or that they are of "spiritual or aesthetic importance". Simply put, I find them more horrifying than sublime. Its hard for me to be inspired or in awe by them when they have the power to cause so much destruction.
Personally, I don’t think earthquakes could be considered sublime, especially the ones that leave such vast amounts of wreckage and take so many causalities. Though experiencing the sublime may have a small facet of fear to it, I think something like a powerful earthquake is more than just something to be scared of, it’s something to be horrified by.
To feel something in nature is sublime, I think one ought to be enraptured- to be in awe and acutely aware of something bigger than themselves. Earthquakes leave us feeling shocked, rather than awed- and they leave us feeling powerless in the worst way. I agree with Raya – earthquakes are in no way spiritually or aesthetically important, and I doubt that in the midst of one, anyone could experience the sublime.
^Raya, Teresa
How about an earthquake that takes place away from human settlement? - Say a powerful earthquake in Siberia? I suppose we could also substitute an Earthquake with a Tsunami.... But then, if a raging Typhoon at sea or a Thunderstorm over a desert would inspire feelings of sublime in the Romantic poets, why not an earthquake? - I'm not disagreeing with you - just musing...
The ‘Sublime’ is ineffable, it is ‘beyond beauty’, an extra passion and emotion of transcendental awe, to be enthralled with a tinge of horror and adrenaline.
Like Raya mentioned, the definition of sublime is personal and varies from one being to another.
That being said, I personally wouldn’t consider an earthquake to be sublime, just as I wouldn’t consider a tsunami, typhoon or thunder to be sublime, but that’s just my personal view.
Some find lightening sublime, it is a majestic force of nature that leaves one captivated and has a transcendental brilliance yet is a danger to one’s life. It provokes horror and gives one an adrenaline rush along with the sense of magnificent splendor.
Like Mr. Roberts said, Romantic poets have been inspired with feelings of sublime by a typhoons or thunderstorms, so why not earthquakes?
Something as powerful and grandiose as an earthquake should be capable of evoking feelings of sublime, however personally, I think the main reason that it fails to do so, for me, is because this colossal force of nature creates havoc and takes away millions of lives. The feeling of horror and impotence preponderates the feeling of awe.
The word sublime is difficult to define, however in my opinion an earthquake can be experienced in a sublime manner.
As it is something that catches you in a moment of weakness it creates the feeling of terror and danger. You have no escape from your emotions, it also brings you thrill and excitement.
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