Critical Thinking On Art & Architecture

Stephen Greenblatt: Resonance and Wonder

Mosque is a religious place where Muslims offer their prayer. In this paper, mosque is selected in order to do critical examination.
If the visual experience of the mosque is considered then the green color can be seen, which indicates the association with Islam, and is in fact a symbol of the religion. Moreover, green color is regarded as a sacred color in Islam, and is also used in binding of the Holy Quran, which is the sacred book of Muslims. It is in accordance with the Stephen Greenblatt’s resonance. According to Greenbaltt , resonance indicates the power to display the objects in order to reach far away from the prescribed boundaries to an expanded world for reflecting the dynamic cultural forces to analyze its origin. The mosque is also a representation of the cultural beliefs, and aspects, and it is conveying a message regarding the unity of the Muslims all over the world.
The resonance also represents the survival, and the mosque is in accordance with it in a way that it is also showing the survival and continuation of the Islamic traditions and values. Muslims offer prayers five times, and it is their belief that offering prayer in the mosque is much better than offering prayer in the home, so they prefer to offer their prayer in mosque. They feel a sense of comfort in the mosque as they have form belief that the mosque is a place where their God is present and listen to them. Stephen Greenblatt has considered resonance as an indication of relations, and mosque is in accordance with the fact mentioned by Stephen Greenbelt. Mosque helps in connecting people with people and people with their God.
Mosque effectively represents the cultural, social, and traditional aspects of Muslim people. The effect of the resonance can also be felt by the awakening of the cultural and social aspects via representational practices that are in accordance with the cultural and traditional aspects. In the mosque prayer or Azan is offered five times in a day in order to awaken the Muslims, and call them to fulfill their religious and traditional obligations by bowing before their God five times a day. The Azan helps in reminding the Muslims about that they have to appear before their God, and also make them prepare for the Day of Judgment on which they will be answerable for all of their acts.
Svetlana Alpers has given an example of museum, and said that it justifies the historical construing of the visual culture. In the same manner the mosque is also representation of the evident culture of Muslims. The interior and the exterior design of the mosque represent the historical culture of Muslims. It also serves as a place for educating Muslims and communicating the ideas.
In a nut shell, mosques play an essential role in representing a culture. They have indicated the respect for preservation of the values, and beliefs that are associated with religion and traditions. Mosques are an effectual representation of the Muslim beliefs, traditions, ritual objects, and customs. The mosques play a significant role in attracting the people towards prayer, and reminding them of their duty towards their God. They are the representation of the human affinity and show respect for the traditions and cultural practices of the Muslims.

References

Greenblatt, Stephen. "Resonance and Wonder." Exhibiting Cultures: The Poetics and Politics of Museum Display By Ivan Karp. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1991
Alpers, Svetlana. "Museum as a Way of Seeing." Exhibiting Cultures: The Poetics and Politics of Museum Display By Ivan Karp. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1991.