Manifest Destiny

is one of a series of pieces that deal with the phenomenology of our linguistic experience. Qualia (the plural of quale) are the phenomenal characteristics of our mental experiences. Normally qualia are discussed in relation to simple sensory experiences, like seeing red or tasting a lemon. In this series, I'm working with phrases whose component words relate strangely to the ideas they represent. The screens show randomly chosen synonyms of the words that make up the original phrases. Each phrase feels different to read, process, and understand; each phrase has its own quale. is another in the series of pieces about linguistic qualia. (See also Extraordinary Rendition and Energy Security)

The phrase 'manifest destiny', like 'energy security, generates phrases with strong religious connotations and denotations. None of the generated phrases hint at the genocide that accompanied the westward movement of European immigrants to the United States.

The screen shows the dense networks of roads and railroads that tie down the landscape. They grow from east to west, and then unravel, also from east to west.