A V I S U A L E S S A Y

P A R A D O X

PARADOX/

G U N T E R M . J O N E S

G U N T E R M . J O N E S

A B S U R D I T Y

Often times paradox and absurdity are mistaken

for one another. I think there’s a subtle, but important

difference. Absurdity is paradox’s immature little brother.

Absurdity is spineless. Two incongruent things are placed

side-by-side. The supposed value is amusement

from the randomness.

P A R A D O X

A B S U R D I T Y

Often times paradox and absurdity are mistaken

for one another. I think there’s a subtle, but important

difference. Absurdity is paradox’s immature little brother.

Absurdity is spineless. Two incongruent things are placed

side-by-side. The supposed value is amusement

from the randomness.

P A R A D O X

PARADOX/A V I S U A L E S S A Y

P A R A D O X

PARADOX/A V I S U A L E S S A Y

P A R A D O X

You begin to understand that those unknowns are within reach if you stretch a bit. That’s

learning. And then the thought occurs to you that puts the fear of God in your bones: there

are things out of your reach /

that you will never know that you don’t know.

i t ’ s a d a r k n e s s t o o d a r k t o p i e r c e .

- I M P O R T A N T T H I N G S // C R U C I A L T H I N G S -

You begin to understand that those unknowns are within reach if you stretch a bit. That’s

learning. And then the thought occurs to you that puts the fear of God in your bones: there

are things out of your reach /

that you will never know that you don’t know.

i t ’ s a d a r k n e s s t o o d a r k t o p i e r c e .

- I M P O R T A N T T H I N G S // C R U C I A L T H I N G S -

To understand paradoxes is to be able to hold two conflicting ideas in your head at the same time. And maybe to give both equal credibil-ity. It’s about merging two things that seem incongruent into something that, some how, makes sense.

To me, it’s probably the highest act of creativ-ity and is the most ready manifestation of curiosity and understanding. It’s mental dexterity made tangible, and it produces the creative output I respect the most. To know how square pegs can go into round holes is to understand that the world, and the perception of it, is a play thing. The world, and how we view it, is malleable.

To understand paradoxes is to be able to hold two conflicting ideas in your head at the same time. And maybe to give both equal credibil-ity. It’s about merging two things that seem incongruent into something that, some how, makes sense.

To me, it’s probably the highest act of creativ-ity and is the most ready manifestation of curiosity and understanding. It’s mental dexterity made tangible, and it produces the creative output I respect the most. To know how square pegs can go into round holes is to understand that the world, and the perception of it, is a play thing. The world, and how we view it, is malleable.

After examining the examples from works of literature, one will see that a paradox is not just

a witty or amusing statement. Paradoxes have serious implications in the world of literature,

because they make statements that often sum up the the main ideas of the work.

What is the purpose of using such a statement then, instead of

just forthrightly stating the work’s intent?

One reason is that to do so would be boring. It is much more interesting for a reader to carve

out the meaning, than to have it fed to them on a silver platter. Furthermore, summing up

the totality of the work in one statement is more memorable. “I must be cruel to be kind” is a

famous statement that has transcended history, whether or not people know where the words

originally came from.

After examining the examples from works of literature, one will see that a paradox is not just

a witty or amusing statement. Paradoxes have serious implications in the world of literature,

because they make statements that often sum up the the main ideas of the work.

What is the purpose of using such a statement then, instead of

just forthrightly stating the work’s intent?

One reason is that to do so would be boring. It is much more interesting for a reader to carve

out the meaning, than to have it fed to them on a silver platter. Furthermore, summing up

the totality of the work in one statement is more memorable. “I must be cruel to be kind” is a

famous statement that has transcended history, whether or not people know where the words

originally came from.

B R I G H T E R .B R I G H T E R

I f o n l y w e c o u l d m a k e o u r t o r c h e s

b u r n a l i t t l e

B R I G H T E R .B R I G H T E R

I f o n l y w e c o u l d m a k e o u r t o r c h e s

b u r n a l i t t l e

Paradox is all around us.

R E S p O N d a c c O R d i N G l y .

Paradox is all around us.

R E S p O N d a c c O R d i N G l y .

I t h i n k o n e o f t h e m o s t o d d t h i n g s a b o u t

L E A R N I N G

i s t h e m o m e n t w h e r e y o u k n o w e n o u g h t o r e a l i z e

H O W M U c H y O U d O N ’ T K N O W .

t h i n k a b o u t d e a t h . t h e n y o u w i l l

f i n a l l y s t a r t l i v i n g .

I t h i n k o n e o f t h e m o s t o d d t h i n g s a b o u t

L E A R N I N G

i s t h e m o m e n t w h e r e y o u k n o w e n o u g h t o r e a l i z e

H O W M U c H y O U d O N ’ T K N O W .

t h i n k a b o u t d e a t h . t h e n y o u w i l l

f i n a l l y s t a r t l i v i n g .

At the most basic level, a paradox is a statement that is self

contradictory because it often contains two statements that

are both true, but in general, cannot both be true at the same

time. For example, can someone be both a compulsive liar yet

telling the truth at the same time?

At the most basic level, a paradox is a statement that is self

contradictory because it often contains two statements that

are both true, but in general, cannot both be true at the same

time. For example, can someone be both a compulsive liar yet

telling the truth at the same time?

How do we sort out the paradox that even though the our consumption lifestyle is causing global warming, most people are unlikely to change their buying habits?

the paradox that we make decisions that fill our lives with more minutia, but the more bits that we are surrounded with, the poorer decisions we make?

how about the paradox that even though our hyper-connected world exposes us to more conflicting view points, we actually become more narrow-minded because we choose places where others only agree with us?

OR

OR

How do we sort out the paradox that even though the our consumption lifestyle is causing global warming, most people are unlikely to change their buying habits?

the paradox that we make decisions that fill our lives with more minutia, but the more bits that we are surrounded with, the poorer decisions we make?

how about the paradox that even though our hyper-connected world exposes us to more conflicting view points, we actually become more narrow-minded because we choose places where others only agree with us?

OR

OR

It feels a bit like walking through a cave with a really crummy torch. The torch gives enough light to see a couple feet in front of you. We’re told that’s enough to get out, but I’m always left wishing I could see a little further into the future, because I’ve got a pretty good hunch this cave is massive.

It feels a bit like walking through a cave with a really

crummy torch. The torch gives enough light to see a

couple feet in front of you. We’re told that’s enough

to get out, but I’m always left wishing I could see a

little further into the future, because I’ve got a pretty

good hunch this cave is massive.

It feels a bit like walking through a cave with a really crummy torch. The torch

gives enough light to see a couple feet in front of you. We’re told that’s enough

to get out, but I’m always left wishing I could see a little further into the future,

because I’ve got a pretty good hunch this cave is massive.

TheRe ARe mORe PARADOXes ThAn Any OTheR POinT in Time. mAybe The mOsT PARADOXicAl Thing is ThAT we neeD TO cReATe even mORe TO unDeRsTAnD The Ones ThAT ARe AlReADy TheRe.

It feels a bit like walking through a cave with a really crummy torch. The torch gives enough light to see a couple feet in front of you. We’re told that’s enough to get out, but I’m always left wishing I could see a little further into the future, because I’ve got a pretty good hunch this cave is massive.

It feels a bit like walking through a cave with a really

crummy torch. The torch gives enough light to see a

couple feet in front of you. We’re told that’s enough

to get out, but I’m always left wishing I could see a

little further into the future, because I’ve got a pretty

good hunch this cave is massive.

It feels a bit like walking through a cave with a really crummy torch. The torch

gives enough light to see a couple feet in front of you. We’re told that’s enough

to get out, but I’m always left wishing I could see a little further into the future,

because I’ve got a pretty good hunch this cave is massive.

TheRe ARe mORe PARADOXes ThAn Any OTheR POinT in Time. mAybe The mOsT PARADOXicAl Thing is ThAT we neeD TO cReATe even mORe TO unDeRsTAnD The Ones ThAT ARe AlReADy TheRe.

PARADOXPARADOX

PARADOXPARADOX

the re i s a reach to

KNOWLEDGE SKILL. you know

W H A T Y O U K N O W ,and th rough

Time,eFFORT,

& DiligenT FOcus,

you ’ve a l so come to rea l i ze A F E W O F T H E T H I N G S

THAT YOU DON’T KNOW.

the re i s a reach to

KNOWLEDGE SKILL. you know

W H A T Y O U K N O W ,and th rough

Time,eFFORT,

& DiligenT FOcus,

you ’ve a l so come to rea l i ze A F E W O F T H E T H I N G S

THAT YOU DON’T KNOW.

Amusement is one of the best parts of paradoxes, but their

application is wider and more important. I think an increased

tolerance for paradox is a crucial requirement for a person to

be able to cope with the world today.

Amusement is one of the best parts of paradoxes, but their

application is wider and more important. I think an increased

tolerance for paradox is a crucial requirement for a person to

be able to cope with the world today.

shRimP

One of the most well known examples that teachers frequently use to introduce the idea

of a paradox is a “jumbo shrimp.” Certainly, “jumbo” and “shrimp” are contradictory

statements. However, that is merely an introductory example, since a shrimp can cer-

tainly be jumbo sized in comparison to other smaller shrimp. Still, it is an appropriate

starting point for students who are new to the concept of paradox.

J U M B O

shRimP

One of the most well known examples that teachers frequently use to introduce the idea

of a paradox is a “jumbo shrimp.” Certainly, “jumbo” and “shrimp” are contradictory

statements. However, that is merely an introductory example, since a shrimp can cer-

tainly be jumbo sized in comparison to other smaller shrimp. Still, it is an appropriate

starting point for students who are new to the concept of paradox.

J U M B O

There’s an old joke. Two elderly women are at a Catskills mountain resort, and

one of them says: “Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.” The other one

says, “Yeah, I know, and such small portions.” Well, that’s essentially how I feel

about life. Full of loneliness and misery and suffering and unhappiness, and it’s

all over much too quickly.— W O O D Y A L L E N

There’s an old joke. Two elderly women are at a Catskills mountain resort, and

one of them says: “Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.” The other one

says, “Yeah, I know, and such small portions.” Well, that’s essentially how I feel

about life. Full of loneliness and misery and suffering and unhappiness, and it’s

all over much too quickly.— W O O D Y A L L E N

PARADOX/A VISUAL ESSAY

PARADOX