What+does+all+this+mean+anyway?+(Conclusions)

==

=What does all this mean anyway?=

There are two points that require wrapping up.

Dore and Dante
We've analyzed the pictures and seen how Dore's work creates a different layer of meaning that is interlaced with our reading of the text. In some ways, Dore's pictures go beyond the text they are applied to by incorporating ideas from Dante's themes or his ideological framework.

This is important because images are not always considered equal to text in prestige. A research paper with many sources is thought to be a much better display of genius than a well-executed artwork. It's an example of the "Anyone can do that" mentality. The idea goes, "Anyone can draw a picture, but not everyone can do well-crafted research and analysis, so doing the research paper means you're smarter whereas drawing a picture is just kids' stuff." This is, of course, wrong. Consider Olympic running. Almost everyone can run, but few have Olympic medals.

Drawing a picture can be incredibly meaningful and can tell its own story in its own way. Dore proves this by providing illustrations that become an integral part of our understanding of the text. His illustrations are not interchangeable pictures. If you still aren't convinced, compare William Blake's illustrations to Dore's and see how they affect your view of Hell.

Wunderkammer Experience
The site was designed to simulate the experience of the chambers of wonder. It's supposed to be confusing so you don't know what's going to happen next. Better website designers than I might make this a truly beautiful experience using greater knowledge of computer code and various applications.

The core idea of the site is simple. Labels and classification have helped to lessen our sense of wonder. There is a feeling that if we know how or why something happens, it's not a mystery, it's not as full of wonder as it was. The moon used to be the setting of a civilization that might rival that of Earth. Since the moon landing, the moon has diminished in its mystery for many. We know what it is, how it works, why it is what it is. The mystery is gone. Closer to home, the forest in the Dark Ages was the symbol of the great mysterious place that housed demons, angels, magical creatures, and pathways to other worlds. Now, we know the forest is really a complex ecosystem with plants and animals living in delicate balance with their food and water resources. The magical creatures are gone.

Or are they? Humans crave a sense of the new. How fun is it to swim in a place no one has been in? Or explore a forest or mountain untouched by human hands? Our need for wonder isn't gone, but now it's our responsibility to create pockets of wonder in our lives. This site has text, images, links, and all the basic elements of a website. Will knowing that fact change how you experience the site? That's up to you. There is a thrill to the unexpected, a secret joy at not knowing exactly where you're going. This is your sense of wonder. Nourish it. It's part of what makes life great. It's part of what makes you human.