Google’s dictionary definition of the word sublime states, “of such excellence, grander, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.” This definition is not far from Edmund Burke’s take on, “the passion caused by the sublime.” Burke describes passion caused by the sublime is in nature when, “those causes operate most powerfully, is Astonishment…with some degree of horror.” Although Burke’s description of passion, in respect to the sublime in nature, is defining nature as “mother nature”, this interpretation of nature can also be tied to our current political nature.
This is a photo of the United States Capitol building, during the 58th presidential inauguration. According to Burke’s take on passion, in respect to the sublime, this photo triggers the emotional effects of astonishment and awe. Despite experiencing the most divisive and destructive presidential race, probably (hopefully) in my lifetime, there was still a peaceful exchange of power from the two polarizing political parties. Despite of also having the “largest crowd size” in inauguration history, this picture also invokes “some degree of horror”—as was defined on Burke’s second clause of his take on the sublime. There is no question that the United States is divided, and the terror that is associated with that, is if the 58th presidential inauguration is the last picture we would have of a US inauguration.
-Danny Lee