refraction| noun
re·frac·tion
3: the action of distorting an image by viewing through a medium
The difference in reflection and refraction lies only in how they show things. Reflection shows everything the way it is while refraction gives you something distorted and bent.
In this way, we could associate reflection with something positive. It’s the truth, it’s good- wholesome and full. There’s no fear or unnatural depiction to it. You see exactly what’s given. It’s comfortable.
But with refraction it’s negative. It’s distorted, bent, somehow portraying something differently than it even is. It’s uncomfortable, different, partial, and in many ways unusual. We may not think it, but how often do we think of refraction in our lives? The negative ideas are often shunned away in hopes of a positive mindset. So realistically, refraction isn’t highly thought of.
It’s more than just a scientific idea. Refraction can become an idea- a concept if you allow it.
Refraction can become something beautiful.
Reflection allows us comfort as it gives us everything we can see and expect. We see the outcome as imagined in our heads. But refraction is different and goes against what we expect. That makes it so incredibly beautiful.
Refraction takes away the known, to let us see the unknown. What should be straight and consistent is bent and irregular. We perceive this and understand this. We see more than what is given. We can understand the inconsistency and still know that what is perceived is not true. We make use of the irregular to further understand the regular.
Sometimes to have a refracted perspective is better than simply a reflection. Go beyond to see what isn’t shown, to know the full story.
