This thesis combines art, science, emotionality, and beauty into a tapestry of thought and introspection. The analysis is a cumulation of fieldnotes, a brief history of underwater photography, ethnography and ethics, artistic movements, and a wider contextualization of the Anthropocene. How can humans navigate these uncharted waters from a variety of perspectives? Can emotionality be interwoven with science? How does beauty play a role in scientific discovery? Can the sublime of this ungraspable entity establish a sense of oneness and attachment? The ocean continues to be an uncharted entity, as scientists continue to grapple with the boundaries of access and understanding. While examining coral photography, I investigated how sociocultural processes of meaning-making affect scientific processes. Photography contributes to our historical record and mythical understandings, thus shaping our scientific, political, and aesthetic perceptions of living systems. Epistemology is a part of the theory of knowledge within philosophical discourse that investigates the foundational structures of consciousness and validity. This work attempts to unfold the underpinnings of our mind and unravel the dichotomy between belief and knowledge.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 24272