Democratization, however, did not necessarily bring us more freedom; in fact, it created more problems because we are left to the question of how to organize the diverse information of this world when there are so many different opinions, just as there are so many ways to understand the meaning of ‘apple’. The short answer to the problem is: there is no one answer, there is only information. The search for meanings is meaningless because there is no inherent meaning or ‘truth’ in the word itself; instead, it is only introspection, what we come to associate with the word personally. In the same way that Lennon warned to people, “It was a clue for which there was no real mystery, nothing to be solved, no ‘content’”13. Although Clark provided extensive links of meaning that are significant to him, it is still a limited view on ‘apple’ because of the very fact that everyone has different conception of ‘apple’. For some, such as Asimov, the truth does not matter as much as the quest for truth itself. Again, one has to wonder “what is the value in searching the meaning ‘apple’”, “what is the point”? For Clark, it was an exploration on the problem of language, and for us, at first glance at least, is an entertaining multimedia work that provides interesting insights about ‘apple’.

Whether Clark will continue to provide more links to this project is up to one’s speculation. However, it is important to keep in mind that while the structure of this work speaks of the abundance of information available or hidden from us today, it also reflects the disassociated and fragmented nature of knowledge, a symptom of post-modernist society. Thus whether having more links will add to his point of the project is not necessarily as important as having a critical understanding his intention.

“A is for Apple” entices the viewers to seek the multifaceted meanings of ‘apple’ with interactive collage with fast moving animation and audio narration all neatly packed in Flash. Clark had received several awards in filmmaking and digital art organizations for this project which undoubtedly attest to the popularity of “A is for Apple” as a critically acclaimed masterpiece, thanks to his cinematic sensibility. His exploration of “hidden” or layers of meaning and scrutiny of systematized knowledge systems are evident in his other works such as “Chemical Vision” (2000), “Maxwell’s Demon” (1998), and more. His earliest work dates to 1987, between the time when he received BFA from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1985 and when he received MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1989. He also attended the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program from 1989-1990. He was born in Calgary, Alberta and currently resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he lectures at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.

Footnotes:
13Kibbins, Gary. “A is for Apple, An Essay”.

Written by: Carol Lee