In the process of developing my art, I first get a vision of an energy dynamic or physical presence that is from an etic perspective. This information is not necessarily understandable – because I am outside its defining parameters – but it does make an impression that I feel necessary to bring forth into this physical reality.
I then use familiar materials at hand – i.e. canvas and paint – to make a visual representation of my perception of that etic reality. This part of my artistic process is emic. I use my native sensory vocabulary as a human being and skills as an artist to make the transition from etic through to the visual representation in the painting.
I was first introduced to the concept of Etic Reality in a comic book. (I read a lot of them.) From the Warren Ellis and Tom Raney 1997 issue of STORMWATCH (#47), I picked up on the idea that an etic reality is one that we cannot understand because we do not have the equipment for it. It was just a few lines of dialog that had little to do with the overall story in an otherwise mediocre comic but that sparked a moment of clarity.
Etic – and its opposite emic – are terms derived primarily from the social and behavioral sciences, particularly anthropology. Etic and emic are two different perspectives used when trying to evaluate observations from fieldwork. The viewpoints are distinct and it is essential in research to be clear about where observations are coming from and how the observer may affect the results. The etic perspective is from an observer outside the cultural paradigm, while the emic perspective is from an observer within the social group – a native to that cultural paradigm.
For example, from an etic perspective the founding fathers were elitists, slave owners, misogynists and worse – and patriots. From an emic perspective they were radical liberal visionaries – and traitors. From our perspective, we may have ideas about what it was like for them but we cannot really experience it.
Likewise, an etic reality is a dimension or alternate universe that we here in this universe do not have sufficient reference to understand, language to define, or senses to perceive.
Maybe you have heard the story of how in 1492 Native Americans could not see the ships of Columbus because they were so alien – an etic reality invisible to their emic world view. Only after more exposure were they able to view and recognize those ships.
For me, discovering the words etic and emic clarified the creative process that I was already doing. It didn’t shift my style of painting or my intention as an artist. I already had a clear intention to bring my visions forth and give them a physical form. However, this comic book enhanced my vocabulary to better define what I am doing and to talk about it in a new way.
More: Etic Realities – Real or Imagined?
Etic Landscape #1
Mixed Media on Canvas, 24″x36″
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