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Concept of Zero
The Mesoamerican concept of zero explores what people often pass up but shouldn’t take for granted. It is about the emotional, spiritual, sensual, visual and audible perception of zero and beyond. The goal is to popularize the concept of zero with the masses. It starts with the sound of silence and ends with dust. This is what you can’t see, hear, feel or taste. But just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean, something is not there. The Mesoamericans knew there was more to life than themselves and what was obvious. They were intelligent and driven. Life below zero is blind to our senses but acknowledged and respected by my ancestors. The seed was planted by the Olmecs but elaborated by the Maya. Today, the goal and idea is to write and perform music inspired by a bloodhound’s sense of smell, earthquakes sound of silence, emotional Zen, orbs in photography and god as the spiritual state of zero. Life is going to go in a new direction, life is going below frequency.
“Seeing is believing” has taking on a new meaning for me. Now I know there’s more to life than that statement and its prudence. Yes I said it! Life is way more complicated than that. That is why it is my first example. My favorite concepts about the visual perception of zero are eye floaters, orbs and ghosts. Eye floaters are cells inside the vitreous of your eye. To me they look like cells, I can even see the nucleus when I stare at a bright solid surface. I usually see them when I stare at a wall or sky, daydreaming. I like following them around as they slide around my eye. For years I wondered what they were and thanks to Google I found out. I thought they were dead cells floating around the surface of my eye, but they are inside the ball of your eye. Funny thing is not everyone can see them. We all have them but we can’t all see them, you have to be nearsighted. That falls under the perception of zero, something that is there but you cannot see it. At least one of my friends can’t and that is good enough for me.
My second example for the visual perception of zero is the orb. There is an artist called Malone Mills who photographs orbs, or shall I say.. tries. I was at her exhibit in Santa Monica at Bergamot Station and was blown away with inspiration. I love that orbs are in the shape of a circle, it makes for credibility. I have a digital camera and occasionally catch an orb myself. But what are orbs, some say spiritual essences’ caught in an existential parallel but my art friend says its dust. Either way, they are not easy to see with the naked eye but shoot them with your digital and all of a sudden you see these round particles that are opaque and sometimes electrifying. What are they, who knows but they are another perfect example of something you don’t see but exists.
Because paranormal experts believe orbs to be linked to ghosts makes for another topic relating to the concept of zero. Are ghosts or spirits lingering in our state of reality? Culturally ghosts are a universal phenomena. Some people are susceptible to them others are not phased at all. Who are we to say they do or do not exist? Is living the positive to dying, is zero a coma.
Thought vibration is also part of the concept and clearly present today with the introduction of “The Secret”. When the laws of attraction come into play, you have to enjoy the ride because you got yourself there in the first place. And since no one can hear what you are thinking, it applies to the concept of zero. While you can make out peoples body language and facial expressions, you don’t know what others are thinking. Not knowing haunts some more than others, that’s why we have “chisme”. Let’s make something up that’ll explain this nonsense. I know, my mother is a world class town crier. Her and my sister report the news better than Univision. Can you improve your thought vibration, does it work, did I want to take this class… I say yes because I thought it through and I can feel the results.
Now projecting sensuality I have to admit has never been a problem. But choosing one to discuss the concept of zero had to be scent. I have a keen sense of smell and since I started working on my food and wine palette I noticed an improvement. That’s why I am so eager when it comes to acquiring new flavors. But it doesn’t compare to other living creatures. Dogs and cats communicate through smell. Their nasal organs are significantly larger, and that is why synthetic pheromones are being tested on the behavior patterns of cats today. Right now I can smell carnitas but my mom’s dogs can smell that and then some. Olfaction is a dogs strength thanks to 220 million receptors in its nose. Humans have 5 million in comparison. That’s why we use them for hunting and in the police force for tracking. Sensually, dogs and cats have an advantage. They can smell things we can’t, living in a world below our consciousness. Dogs and cats live in a sensual world below zero.
The sound of silence inspired this project and it is also what inspired me in life. Part in do to Simon and Garfunkel but also thanks to nature, I love music. That is why this assignment has been so much fun. I experienced a perfect example of it in its glory this past weekend at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival with one group in particular. El Gran Silencio… Formerly known as La Zona Del Silencio. Inspirada por el territorio del norte de la republica de Mexico, El Gran Silencio es una fusion de vallenato, reggae, rap y ska. Empezo con los hermanos Hernandez y crecio bastante. La zona del silencio inspiro este grupo. Un lugar que estaba bajo mar. Un lugar bajofondo.
Nature and all its wonder inspired music but nature itself makes music too. When the plates in our planet move they create a frequency or noise that we cannot hear with our naked ears but we have machines that pick them up for us to warn us of patterns in earthquakes. I was born in Northridge so the thought of music and nature are definitely worth sharing when it comes to the concept of zero today. Our planet is constantly changing, so naturally we have created a system to study these changes. For earthquakes its frequency; we study the noise it makes. This noise is faint, between 2-8 hz. The average human perception of sound is measured at 20-24 hz. En si, the movement of the earth creates a noise that travels and is picked up by modern seismometers that can measure frequencies from 30 to 1/850 hz. Again, proving that there is a world of sound and movement beyond our perception and below zero.
Nature and all its wonder inspired music but nature itself makes music too. When the plates in our planet move they create a frequency or noise that we cannot hear with our naked ears but we have machines that pick them up for us to warn us of patterns in earthquakes. I was born in Northridge so the thought of music and nature are definitely worth sharing when it comes to the concept of zero today. Our planet is constantly changing, so naturally we have created a system to study these changes. For earthquakes its frequency; we study the noise it makes. This noise is faint, between 2-8 hz. The average human perception of sound is measured at 20-24 hz. En si, the movement of the earth creates a noise that travels and is picked up by modern seismometers that can measure frequencies from 30 to 1/850 hz. Again, proving that there is a world of sound and movement beyond our perception and below zero.
Emotionally zero is Zen. You don’t feel good and you don’t feel bad. Most can only get there through meditation. But I’m sure there are other ways. In Buddhism Zen is represented with a round shape “O” solidifying the idea or neutrality. Let’s face it, even when you are numb, you feel something. What does nothing feel like? Zero!
The final muse is of course god and spirituality. It was important to Mesoamerica and it is important today. They sacrificed so much and were extremely devout. They didn’t just believe something greater was out there, they knew it. They knew we are not alone. So many fear solitude and doubt it makes me sad. In reality god is zero. That was clear to Mesoamerica. It’s represented in their ballgame. That was their reenactment of the universe. That is why it was so important to them. God created and destroyed. God gave us the sun and the moon. Duality in full circle over and over again. Recognizing that is only the beginning because in my study of zero, finding the pro to the con was key.
Extra:
Below Frequency Track 1
Below Frequency
Did you know there is so much that goes on..?
Did you know there is so much that goes on..?
To humans it is a mystery
To creatures it is a call
it is a study
it is what lurks under your reality...
under your nose...
it is what lurks under your reality...
under your nose...
How do we know something is there?
Simply explore
Go beyond the unknown...
Go below frequency
Claudia Garcia
Chicano Studies 44
Professor Jose Hernandez
April 20, 2009
References:
o Interview - Dr. Jennifer Koster - Mythological Consultant – C. G. Jung Institute
o Interview - James Doser – Sound Engineer – The Complex Studios
o Eye Floaters - http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/spotsfloats.htm
o Number: The Language of Science by Tobias Dantzig
o Popol Vuh - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popol_Vuh
o Zen - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen
o Orbgasm – Malone Mills - http://frankpicturesgallery.com/artists/malonemills/index.html
o Ghosts - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost
o The Secret - http://www.thesecret.tv/behind-the-secret-resources.html
o How the sense of smell influences cats behavior – Drs. Foster & Smith, Veterinary Services Dept. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+1313&aid=167
o La Zona del Silencio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1_qgAURAtI
o Earthquakes - What are the long term trends? -http://www.earth.webecs.co.uk/index.htm
o The U.S. Geological Survey of Earthquake Hazards Program - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/historical.php
o Frequency of Earthquakes worldwide - http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0197837.html
o Frequency - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency
o Frequency Range of Human Hearing - http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/ChrisDAmbrose.shtml
o My art project: Below Frequency – www.myspace.com/belowfrequency
o John Cage – Composer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cage
o Dan Graham – Conceptual Artist - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Graham
o Mesoamerica
o The everything Toltec Wisdom Book – Allan Hardman
o Songs of the Silent World and other poems – E.S. Phelps
o Modern Mysticism - by Michael Gellert
