ToK Essay #3 Nov 24: Sever Ties with Its Past
This blogpost proposes just one of many possible approaches to ToK Essay #3 November 2024. We take the approach that the concept of "severing ties with its past," results in the significant transformation of an Area of Knowledge (AoK). This blog post aims to develop how this approach could apply to the Arts, and looks at the evaluation and implications of the knowledge argument used.
This blogpost accompanies the video linked here, and below.
Understanding Severance in the Context of AoK
The approach taken to understanding "sever ties with its past" is that there are significant changes to one or more elements of. the Knowledge framework of the AoK. This severance might be necessary for an AoK to maintain relevance amidst cultural and technological shifts that render old paradigms obsolete.
The Knowledge Framework and Cultural Shifts
The Knowledge Framework within ToK outlines the scope, themes, and nature of problems considered by an AoK. When cultural changes external to the AoK occur—be they technological advancements, shifts in available resources, or broader social transformations—the previously relevant knowledge may no longer suffice. The AoK must then adapt, potentially severing ties with its past methodologies and perspectives, to stay relevant. This adaptation can be seen as both necessary and beneficial, allowing the AoK to evolve and continue contributing meaningfully to society.
Real Life Example: The Shift in Visual Arts
An example of the process of 'severing ties with its past' outlined here, can be observed in the Arts during the mid-19th century. Prior to the 1860s, European visual arts, particularly painting, were dominated by realism—the accurate, detailed, unembellished depiction of the visual world. The invention of the camera and the rise of photography challenged this dominance by fulfilling realism's role more efficiently and effectively. This technological shift forced the Arts to reconsider their function; the result was the emergence of the Impressionist movement, which focused not on replicating reality, but on capturing the impressions—emotions, atmospheres, and experiences.
Far more details on this example can be found at this link.
Implications and Evaluations
The transition to impressionism demonstrates the severance of ties with the past in an AoK in response to external changes, but it also raises questions about the nature of such transitions:
Continuity vs. Severance: Even as new movements like impressionism rose to prominence, the techniques and elements of realism did not vanish. This coexistence challenges the notion that an AoK can, (or maybe even should), completely sever ties with its past.
Benefits vs. Losses: By adopting new methodologies and scopes, an AoK might risk losing valuable aspects of its tradition that could still have relevance. The decision to sever ties must be balanced against the potential loss of depth and continuity.
Causality and Influence: The direction of influence—whether societal changes prompt shifts in AoK or vice versa—can be ambiguous. In some cases, movements within an AoK, such as the early impressionists' drive for recognition, might themselves instigate broader cultural shifts.
Conclusion
In discussing severing ties with the past within an AoK, as examined in ToK Essay #3 Nov 24, responses could largely revolve around the definitions developed for the key terms in the essay. Whilst the benefits of staying relevant and adaptive are clear, the complexities involved in deciding when and how to sever these ties highlight the intricate balance between innovation and tradition in the production of knowledge.
Further guidance and detailed analyses are available in our comprehensive ToK Essay Guidance Notes, designed to support your writing of ToK Essay 3 Nov 24.
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