“Dishes and Track” by James Corner, Magdalena, New Mexico

This is another piece of photography depicting how a landscape has been changed for the worse. This landscape is in Magdalena, New Mexico and was taken by professional photographer James Corner. James Corner is an internationally known Landscape Architect and photographer. The structures you can see are a few of 27 dishes (84 foot antennas) all scanning outer space for some sign of life all in the hope of a major discovery. In the image we can also see tracks, these tracks are used to move the dishes to different placements so that NASA can focus on a certain part of space and scan a more defined area. But something which I am asking myself is, is it worth ruining such an amazing area which is so breathtaking. Obviously some may argue that anything to research our future is worth the sacrifice but when we think about it, so far, have we made any truly life-changing discoveries thanks to these huge, ugly and landscape-altering structures. I am not denying that many discoveries have been made, but none of them have really had an impact on Billy sitting at home. I think this is what Corner is trying to comment on. How, is it really necessary to spend so much money on a program which has so many flaws.

Now for an analysis. The thing that immediately strikes us when you look at the image is the huge satellite dish in the foreground. I think this was something of Corner’s choosing, he wants to show you exactly what this picture is about from the second you see it. Also, it is a way of drawing attention to the piece, if you just saw a large plain with dishes  on it then you might not really look at it, but this picture, it really grabbed my eye immediately. Furthermore, he has taken the picture at a certain angle so that you see the line up of the dishes stretching off out of sight, both to show his point about how much they are influencing the landscape and to emphasize an eternal influence on nature. Finally, the sky is clear (apart for a couple of clouds). Maybe this is a kind of analogy meaning, the sky is clear: there is nothing out there and so setting up these dishes to search space is useless and so the consequences out way the benefits.

“Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway” by J.M.W. Turner in 1844

This is a painting completed in England during the boom of the Industrial Revolution. It now resides in the National Gallery in London. J.M.W. Turner was by craft a landscape painter and up until the Industrial Revolution was known for painting beautiful landscapes of nature (much like John Constable’s “Hay Wain” and “The Corn Field”), according to Wikipedia and Simon Gilliat. But when the industrial revolution came along and travel was revolutionized for millions, Turner welcomed this change. Having travelled in stagecoaches and horse-drawn carriages as he crossed the country, this new and more comfortable way of travel was a welcome relief. Interesting, that we learn in school and through society that the Industrial Revolution was devastating (it solidified the class system brought misery to many lower-class workers who toiled for hours in mills and factories) and yet one of the most famous and influential artists of the time was in favor of this upheaval (c.f. fulcrumgallery.com).
Everything in this painting represents the glory of the industrial revolution. The locomotive which is depicted has an uncanny resemblance to that of the most advanced train of the day: the “Firefly Class” (according to fulcrumgallery.com). Furthermore, the bridge depicted is grand and majestic, and when we look to the left of the painting we see another bridge standing tall. The bridge which is being traversed is said to be the Thames crossing at Maidenhead, England. At the time, this bridge was a feat of engineering and an indispensable addition to the Great Western Railway. 

Although one would start to assume that this whole painting is praising the advances accomplished in the late 1800s, there is one crucial component of this painting which cannot be overlooked, however elusive. It is the rabbit. If we look at the center-right of the painting, we see a rabbit bounding away from the noisy train and into the river. I think this is a criticism of the Industrial Revolution. Turner is saying “Look at this bridge, isn’t it marvelous, but look, this rabbit’s life has been changed forever, and ruined forever” (the rabbit being a metaphor for nature in general)

“Pacific Gas and Electric Plant, Morro Bay, California” by John Pfahl, June 1983

The Morro Bay power plant is a hydroelectric energy plant in Morro Bay in southern California. What is special and shameful about this plant is that it is built right on the coast line, and so it ruins the beauty of the lovely southern California beach which leads into the bay. This picture was taken in June 1983 by American photographer John Pfahl. John Pfahl is a photographer who specializes in shots of landscapes: “Pacific gas and Electricity plant, Morro Bay, California” is only one of many in a series of shots commenting on ruined landscapes, according to his official website: johnpfahl.com. Photography is a very different type of medium compared to paintings and sculptures. For paintings and sculptures, the artist creates the art and so can stray from reality to get his message across. In photography though, the art IS reality, so the photographer must pick his location to get his message across. He could have chosen really any power plant (considering most big structures will affect some kind of landscape), but he chose this one. Maybe because he lives in or comes from the area, but I think it’s more because this power plant is in a particularly evocative location: the power plant is literally on the beach! Furthermore I think he chose the perfect day to take the picture: the weather reflects the tone of the piece. The mood of the piece is one of sadness and shock, the art is saying: “Can you believe they built this on such a priceless landscape!” the weather is dark and cloudy which is in perfect harmony with the message John Pfahl is trying to put across.