
Definitions
are supplied to demystify symbolism (and the artwork in this
studio).
Click here to return to the online symbolism dictionary.
Clocks...
Joseph Campbell talked about the loss of the
traditional clockface to the digital version as a big loss
to our cultural on a subliminal level. The traditionally numbered
version had a hand that continuously (and reassuringly) swept
round and round. The subliminal message: there will be another
tomorrow, another noon, another midnight, another summer,
another spring (time is eternal and it is renewed). Things
go round and start over again. With the advent of the digital
version, numbers are continuously clicking away and disappearing
at a high speed and he said it was kind of like the rug being
pulled out from under us on a subconscious level: the minutes
are continuously disappearing at a furious pace. You can't
look at that clock and (in one glance) get any reassurance
that there will be a tomorrow, you are just reminded that
time is slipping away. Interesting. If I had the quote, I
would share it but this comes strictly from my memory (and
I decided to share it anyway :)
Clocks
are timepieces. The very first time keeper was the moon because
it's changes are easy to track. We've moved on since then
to manmade versions that track in much finer increments. See
also HOURGLASS for different
connotations on the same theme :) A clock denotes a beginning
and an ending, a finite (or incremental) time period. It's
also a machine and can be seen as merciless and unstoppable.
To stop time, slow down time and speed it up all have their
own separate connotations that are dependent on the circumstances
surrounding the symbol. This is the age of the machine, the
age of information and clocks rule the day. Clocks are about
time, schedules, business and modern man. We are SO dependent
on clocks and (almost) everyone wears one on their wrist.
I used to call these our modern day badges of slavery <g>.
Every second is precious and we all agree that "time
is money." I often use a backwards clock as a symbol
for being in the realm of the subconscious (also known as
dreamland <g>). The backwards clock is the opposite
of the brightly lit business day and also has to do with Alice
and her second trip to Wonderland. I simply place THIS clock
within Alice's mirror. If you separate it from the mirror
then it would appear to be backwards :)
Slang/(American)
cultural interpretation: "Around the clock" (24/7),
"Clean someone's clock" (to beat someone up quite
soundly), "Like clockwork" (an unvarying schedule),
"Run out the clock" (to purposefully waste the last
few minutes or seconds of an allotted amount of time, usually
in a sporting event) and "Slave(s) to the clock"
(business workers).
Posted: January 24, 2004.
Revised: April 19, 2004.
Dreams,
p. 255
Immortality is a clock that never runs down, a mandala that
revolves eternally like the heavens.
Posted: January 24, 2004.


Want to know more? Go out and pick up a copy of the book(s) quoted and expand your mind :) These are MY teachers, the people who teach me about symbolism :) I hope the supplied definitions help you understand the art found on this site.
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