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A spiral within a drop
This was the hardest emblem to create. The five armed spiral accomplishes the complexity of varying speeds while also representing the five family members of the Bundren family who are the main story tellers. As was already alluded, all five begin from a central point, in this case Addie’s death. Each of the spirals expands away from the other spirals to show that while all of the narration is catalyzed by one point they manifest differently.
The water droplet is the microcosmic representation of the story arc which depicts the Bundren’s coming to a felled bridge, attempting to find an alternate route, but ultimately returning to the first path to attempt to ford the river. The droplet literally gives visual clues to water, but the tear shape also lends itself to the idea that a single event may contain multiple perspectives all moving at different paces. The droplet nature also lends itself to the idea that this is simply one event in a pond of multiple others, and when it finally incorporates into the whole it will loose its form.
Whirlpool, the maker of fridges and other home appliances, uses a spiral that floats about the ‘W’ of its name in its logo. On the surface this whirlpool is representative of the ‘whirlpool’ of water created in such devices as washing machines so as to remind the customer what the company produces. This particular spiral is actually two clockwise spirals that meet in the center.
Appliances have not seen a whole lot of innovation over the past years. In particular, major household appliances that are seen as necessary seem to have hit a threshold. The spiral and its implicit ties to five and regeneration invite the viewer to imagine the company growing with the times and regenerating its past success. To avoid the cold negative connotations of a technology company the spiral also brings an organic feel to the company.
As a technology company the spiral can represent quick growth during technological advancement and also a more sober, conservative growth during tough economic times (such as these). While technology is firmly based in science, to many the function of these technologies is ‘magical’ and the whirlpool with its five guided spiral is representative of that mysticism.
Whirlpool's Logo
There is no set number for quickness. The number four with its geometric square is the best at visualizing the stagnant nature of certain parts of the book, while the number five and the spiral with geometrically larger arms could represent the rapid pace of other parts. The number one could also work to represent those sections which are disjointed and yet related. A line is the quickest path between two points, and so the number one also represents the quick pace of certain sections.
Five wins out over the other numbers for a few reasons though. Since a spiral (the visual of five) starts at a point it effectively encompasses the number one. Depending on which direction a person ‘reads’ the spiral also determines the speed. Reading outwards shows ‘looser’ slower spirals while reading in shows ‘tighter’ faster spirals. The spiral emanates from the center just as the story emanates from Addie.
While five represents regeneration Faulkner’s story is seemingly about degeneration. The body of Addie degenerates, Darl descends into madness, and even Cash’s leg disintegrates. However there is growth and regeneration within the novel. Dewey-Dell is carrying on the biological regeneration of human kind in her womb. Vardman and Cash’s minds become more sharply honed and mature to fill the gap of maturity left after Darl is declared crazy and is carted off. Anse even takes on another wife to fill the void left by Addie.
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