Steve Mentz’s “Deterritorializing Preface” is a short excerpt that makes a striking argument for the switching of codes from terra-centric vocabularies to ocean-centric vocabularies. At the very beginning of the preface, Mentz states, “our bodies and imaginations register the shift from familiar Terra to alien Oceanus” (1). As he refers to the ocean as “alien,” an idea of the ocean being mysterious, intriguing, and universally unknown is placed and confirmed inside the reader’s mind. So, with the terrestrial language including words such as field, ground, and landscape, which are such strict terms, it is almost essential for us to explore the unknown and expand our vocabulary to become more dynamic, just as the ocean is.

Mentz’s suggestion to change the universal term of the field to “current” is a highly intriguing point, especially as this topic was briefly discussed in class. The term’ field’ seems so stationary and flat, so to use the term “current” as one to suggest flow and change is a positive step in the right direction. To understand the ocean, we must first accept that our minds and ideas need to flow like a current instead of remaining in a constant pasture. Next, we must recognize that the Earth is mostly blue to fully understand and appreciate “Blue Humanities”. To relate to the Earth being mostly water, we must allow our minds and metaphors to float up to the surface and recycle rather than remain on the ground floor and never take off. Lastly, to build on the idea of our language changing as well as our ideas, we must be able to also let go of linear visual thinking related with the term landscape. Instead, we should resort to the term seascape, as nothing is ever so clear in the ocean for us humans, and is always left up to interpretation, such as is most of our lives. Adopting more dynamic language related to blue humanities may prove beneficial to society as it creates open, ever-changing, and therefore constantly learning minds.

This brief reading from Steve Mentz was thoroughly enjoyable and allowed me to open my own mind to re-interpret what blue humanities might be. This type of constant flow-state of thinking, especially relating to everyday language, is one that I have never truly thought about, and I am appreciative of Mentz’s writing.