The White Bird by: John Berger

In this article, John Berger talks about how the white birds have figurative representation. The white bird is referring to the world of nature which surrounds us. To John, the world of nature includes birds, rock forms, running water, trees, and animals. He experiences an aesthetic emotion between him and the white bird because it represents the purity and peace which he finds within the forms of nature. The aesthetic emotion he feels with the white bird is a derivative emotion he experiences before nature from the energy of nature itself.

The symbolism behind the white bird has various symbolic meanings to it depending on the culture.  For example, a friend of mine made me an origami crane, and when I researched the significance behind it meant wisdom, peace, hope and family. To John Berger the process in creating the small white bird is fascinating with each step. John describes, the complexity of the construction process very graciously from start to finish. Between their construction and how it connects to nature the white birds provoke some kind of astonishment towards the audience. Based on the way he describes the wooden bird it indicates how much more meaning the bird has.

For instance, I have two ceramic cups that were given as graduation gifts from one of my professors. Something as practical and functional as a cup has a significant meaning to me. To the naked eye it probably looks easily constructed. Knowing the entire process it took to make something as simple as a cup gives it more value because it is beautifully constructed, and it also was made by my professor which gives it so much more meaning than just a cup. To me the cups are a symbol of an emotional connection because it reminds me of all the time I have spent working in the ceramic studio.