This example of haunted pastoral comes in a way that may not be thought of as a piece of technology, however this photo demonstrates technology in a more unique way. The object in the photo that is interrupting the idealized space and acting as a machine in the garden is a composter. The composter is along the edge of a piece of farmland and tells the story of future technology, similar to rusty tractor. Unlike the rusty tractor that shows the past haunting the present, this composter represents the future from the past that is haunting the present. In the past, the natural earth landscape was to be thought of as natural composter, with the thought of throwing an apple or any piece of fruit or vegetable out the window because it is able to be composable with the earth. Now with advancements in technology, a man-made composter is now able to do similar processes, however, comes at the expense of an obstruction in the natural beauty of untouched landscape. I found this composter in the outskirts of a preserved wildlife area that is restricted from buildings being built upon – just natural wilderness. But now, this composter takes away from the beauty and haunts this pastoral landscape but may not be noticed upon those that walk by as it a sore in the natural view of nature in which we choose to block out. After this composter was placed in its resting spot, it has now become a machine in the garden, hidden in plain sight, taking away a would-be picturesque image and now being left with a present, but hidden disruption in the scenery. Sure, it offers a way for people to dispose of food products to make fertilizer instead of throwing it on the ground, but in an area devoted to preservation, this increases the magnitude of the unknown hauntingly presence within this idealized space. “In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to Society” (Thoreau, 1862). In this quote from H.D. Thoreau, he is talking about walking in the woods and how he would forget everything, even his obligations to society. Much like the area in which the composter is place, the wildlife preservation ground is combination of wooded grassy lands in which many people go to, to forget about their obligations to the world and feel free. However, the visual of the composter reminds people that pass by of their obligations such as not littering. This assists in the haunting of pastoral landscapes whether it is to be known or not by the individual.
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