Echoes of Logos and Dao: "Yellow Earth" and the Question Concerning Technology, Language, and Cross-Cultural Dialogue

Abstract

The study aims to elucidate and address the problem of cross-cultural encounters and artwork interpretation by exploring the philosophical concepts of “the Logos and Dao.” Through the examination of Heidegger’s and Gadamer’s thoughts on “Logos” and referencing Daoist thought, the essential meaning of “the logos and Dao” is gradually explained with the notion of “Enframing” (Ge-stell), which denotes a mechanism that gathers and sends over. The structure of “Gestell” not only supports the fundamental function of the “house of language,” but also plays an important role in the question of modernity and technology. Through a detailed analysis of the film work Yellow Earth, the study illustrates how technology, while presenting challenges to the essential relation between humans and beings, also holds the potential to unveil the “Enframing” force of “the Logos and Dao.” This revelation fosters a reimagined understanding of cross-cultural dialogue in the age of modern technology, and it also urges us to rethink the relation between humanity, language, and technology.