Framing

Above: Untitled by William Eggleston

by Takuma Ono

A zen garden is, in essence, an abstract representation of nature, framed by some type of enclosure—right? We know that framing helps tell a specific story, a specific point of view. When gardens are designed to tell a story, an enclosure can play a vital role in the telling of the story. Is there anything more to it? I did a bit of research on framing and here’s what I found.

Framing emerged as civilizations learned of its command over perception—by that I mean we, as a people, learned that seeing and recalling is not an innocent nor objective act; how Information is presented affects impressionability of information. It’s not so different from the framing effect. Framing commands a high level of influence on how information is received—so it didn’t take long for framing to be subverted in the interest of cultivating power.

Though an image may point to the past, an image can function as a compass. What history tells us is that when framing is applied purposefully to an image, it is highly effective at influencing perception; framed images provide affirmation through the narratives and meanings they hold—through the stories they tell.

As the adage goes, pictures are worth a thousand words—and it is so because pictures are framed—not dissimilar from the way music is framed in silence.

Early artifacts of the Mesopotamian civilization include images carved into blocks of stone, which are in essence framed images. Framing may have spread from Mesopotamia to other ancient civilizations, including Chinese, Egyptian, Incan, Mayan, Persian, and Roman—where framing was adopted for creating meaning, for cultivating power. In time, the market for framed imagery expanded and with technology, images became ubiquitous.

Today, our smartphones bring framed images to our pockets. Perhaps the real success of the iphone arises from the way it successfully frames images—it lacks buttons and other elements that detract from seeing images.

All throughout history, framed subjects have evolved in tune with the stories that resonate with the times, with the era. When Instagram first arrived, the technological tools that enhanced nostalgia and the ease of sharing images helped establish it as a leading social media platform—but what is relevant in terms of imagery does not cease to evolve.

The English word frame has its roots in the word from (fram), which denotes departure or movement away from—in time or space. The word frame and framing have been re-appropriated and have crossed over into the vernacular of various professions but the word generally tends to hold the same or similar meaning.

In the early years of human history, framing was utilized as a way of highlighting images of divinity, and such images were often created/placed in spaces that celebrated the divine.

In the modern era, a significant paradigm shift in what it takes to be fulfilled is altering how framing is utilized. Now, framing is extensively used to sell experiences and merchandise. Perhaps, in the early years of civilization, we consumed stories of deities because it fulfilled many essential needs—needs that support growth and prosperity. Perhaps the difference today is that the very act of consuming has become a source of fulfillment.

Online shopping, advertising, and influencing—the keystones of modern consumerism—undoubtedly contribute to, and accelerate this paradigm shift. That said, it is still on the individual to decide for themselves how and what to frame—especially in one’s own home. One thing we can be certain about is that what we choose to place in the frame remains equally significant today as it was centuries ago.

What image will you place in your frame?