The Word "Fluidism" - Inflating Its Definition Ruins Its Value

The Function Of Words

Words serve to label sensory perceptions so that different people can create common understandings. The definition of a word often summons to mind a particular group of pictures that literally allows different people to see what the word means.

A word has its greatest value, when we can associate a corresponding picture with it. Consistent, unambiguous word-and-picture associations create the clearest understandings. On the other hand, if a word's meaning relies primarily on other words, then the word has less value as a tool for helping people create such understandings.

Etymology deals with the history of words, the true meanings of words, and how the uses of words become established over time. I propose that true meanings of words and good uses of words depend critically on consistent pictures. I further propose that the clearest etymology depends on consistent word-and-picture associations. In this way, vision strengthens verbiage, and verbiage strengthens vision. Consequently, if we have an opportunity to establish a strong visual meaning of a word, then we are wise to make the most of this opportunity.

A Word About Art

Throughout the history of visual art, different styles have emerged with different names. "Classicism", "impressionism", "cubism", "pointillism", and "abstract expressionism" are a few examples. These words of styles have become established through fairly consistent associations with the pictures they categorize. I have suggested another word, "fluidism", to describe a particular class of paintings that share a clear, common objective-to present the patterns of fluid dynamics as works of art. My goal has been to choose a word that most truthfully names this category of art works.

A few other artists have independently chosen this word to categorize their own art styles that are quite different from one another. Elsewhere I have suggested that these artists are doing little to establish a clear etymology for the word.

I have also pointed to a group of artists who clearly contribute to the class of artworks most fitting for the name, "fluidism":

Roxanne Regan-Briggs (contemporary painter)Pery Burge (contemporary photographer)Robert Dickman (contemporary artist)Leo De Goede (contemporary painter)Robert Kernodle (contemporary painter/photographer)Rein Nomm (contemporary painter/photographer)Chris Parks (scientist/artist)Don Petit (space shuttle astronaut)Frank Pietronigro (zero-gravity drift painter)Jackson Pollock (famous abstract expressionist painter)Ella Sipho (contemporary painter)Suminagashi (ancient marbling artists)Martin Waugh (contemporary photographer)

The preceding artists share a common objective, even though they are not necessarily familiar with one another. They present the prime physical substances of fluids themselves.

Other artists use the word, "fluidism" merely to represent the secondary mental concepts of fluidity that might describe their work metaphorically. Such a predominately conceptual use, however, is counterfeit or inflated, reducing the potential value of this word to the art world.

(c) 2011 Robert G. Kernodle

Robert G. Kernodle lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he spends time working on visual art and writing. He explains his art style in detail at http://robertkernodle.yolasite.com/. He writes about art and other subjects at http://robertkernodle.hubpages.com/

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