24-12-2016, 08:17 PM
The issue of value is an interesting topic. Obviously some person or persons put in some time in the manufacture of the VMs. As I see it, the question is: Why bother? We assume there was some purpose to their efforts, but it's difficult to specify what that reason was. However, it seems that basic motivations will fit in a few general categories.
1) The VMs is an attempt to impart information in a straight-forward manner. The author has made the best possible effort to say what s/he wanted to say.
2) The actual purpose of the VMs is hidden, disguised, enciphered, encrypted, you name it. The author felt there was something significant to be said, or had an ulterior motivation, and created an intentional obscurity, at least in the written text and possibly in the illustrations as well.
3) The written text is not able to convey information for whatever reason. The VMs is a work of art, but not a work of literature. There is no content beyond superficial appearance.
The value of the VMs, established through the meaning in the written text, is either overt, covert or no-vert. The first has established no connections; the third holds that there are no connections to be had, which leaves the second category, the covert option. The VMs is a puzzle. How does one solve a puzzle? By following the clues that are provided. By finding that which was hidden. By recognizing the patterns and images presented. By seeing through the disguise. By discovering the author's intentions.
1) The VMs is an attempt to impart information in a straight-forward manner. The author has made the best possible effort to say what s/he wanted to say.
2) The actual purpose of the VMs is hidden, disguised, enciphered, encrypted, you name it. The author felt there was something significant to be said, or had an ulterior motivation, and created an intentional obscurity, at least in the written text and possibly in the illustrations as well.
3) The written text is not able to convey information for whatever reason. The VMs is a work of art, but not a work of literature. There is no content beyond superficial appearance.
The value of the VMs, established through the meaning in the written text, is either overt, covert or no-vert. The first has established no connections; the third holds that there are no connections to be had, which leaves the second category, the covert option. The VMs is a puzzle. How does one solve a puzzle? By following the clues that are provided. By finding that which was hidden. By recognizing the patterns and images presented. By seeing through the disguise. By discovering the author's intentions.