"Baraka:" A Meditation on the Sacred in Art

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the pantheistic view of the world revealed in the 1992 movie "Baraka," in which art is used to highlight the concept that nature is religion. The writer describes the film and its artistic heritage, and explains how the images are sequenced to influence the viewer in a very specific way.The writer concludes that by juxtaposing what is considered sacred with the supposedly profane and showing that they are all part of the ebb and flow of life on earth, the movie relays the message that all is one, and there is spirituality to be found even in the rawest and most ordinary aspects of nature.

From the Paper:

"One response to the movie at the time of its release was: "Baraka tries to make the argument that there is no single cultural legacy but rather all aspects are important" ("The Movie Baraka as Evidence of a Human Cultural Legacy," Anthology of Ideas, 2006). It might be added, it suggests that the human legacy itself can only be understood as important and valid if it is taken into consideration holistically, rather than piecemeal. No aspect of the world, even the parts seen as particularly sacred are superior to other aspects of life. This may seem to contradict the centrality of religious images in the iconography of the film."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Baraka." Directed by Ron Fricke. 1992.
• Brussat, Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat. "Baraka." Spirituality and Practice. 1993. 13 Nov 2007. http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=4678
• Ebert, Roger. "Baraka." The Chicago-Sun Times. 12 Nov 1993. 13 Nov 2007. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19931112/REVIEWS/311120301/1023
• Hinson, Hal. "Baraka." The Washington Post. 27 Oct 1993. 13 Nov 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/barakanrhinson_a0a88a.htm
• "The Movie Baraka as Evidence of a Human Cultural Legacy." Anthology of Ideas. 2006. 13 Nov 2007. http://anthologyoi.com/anthropology/culture/anthropology-the-movie-baraka-as-evidence-of-a-human-cultural-legacy.html

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