A lot of what you said about creativity becoming a list art has gotten me concerned as well. I’ve been thinking about that, too… So many craftsmen/artisans have died without an opportunity to teach the younger generation.
I was listening to a podcast about homes (building materials/beauty) last night and it talked about this subject too. We create cheap (glued together) materials meant to mimic real (whole, complete) materials.
The podcast hosts brought up a few things:
1. People get them because they’re cheap, but when you factor in the cost of maintenance and the longevity of the materials, the real thing is either equal to the cost if the cheap materials or is actually less expensive.
2. There’s a deep need and desire we have to be around real things. We would rather stand by an old brick building than one with a fake brick façade, even if we don’t understand why. It’s an intuitive part of humanity to crave the real.
3. Some forms of architecture are awful (in the same way a banana taped to a wall and called “art” Is awful). Brutalist architecture is an example of pointless architecture that serves no purpose. (I don’t remember the name of the “father of brutalist architecture,” but I have read a few articles about how his buildings were foolish at best because they didn’t serve the needs of the people in them.
4. We have been dumbed down, even when it comes to how we decorate our homes. I have always wondered why I, as a writer, LOATHE decor with words on them. I knew that trendy clichés were a big part of it (“Live Laugh Love” makes me want to rip my hair out), but I understand another reason now: when we want a home to feel cozy, we put the word “cozy” on our decor and call it good. I’m doing this, we fail to actually make the space cozy, but we can mentally check the box. It’s laziness!
All of this to say that I hear you and I’m on board with that plan. I think that, in many ways, a return to “The old ways” could significantly help us and prolong our humanity and survival.
Absolutely agree! I’m hoping that, as I work on beautifying my home, I can add some awesome pieces that are real to provide some depth to it.
I’ve been talking to a lady at my church who has a really eclectic style but makes it work (some of her stuff is Chinese, some is southwestern, some is what she calls contemporary). I’ve been asking her for advice and she’s got some strong opinions about trends I’ve fallen for in the past (like the more clean, almost clinical look in a home). I bought a bunch of gray and white paint years ago and now I have to figure out what to do with it! 😅
Actively seeking a legal and affordable psychedelic-assisted therapy or shamanistic ayahuasca ceremony in the next 5 years, if that tells you anything.
A lot of what you said about creativity becoming a list art has gotten me concerned as well. I’ve been thinking about that, too… So many craftsmen/artisans have died without an opportunity to teach the younger generation.
I was listening to a podcast about homes (building materials/beauty) last night and it talked about this subject too. We create cheap (glued together) materials meant to mimic real (whole, complete) materials.
The podcast hosts brought up a few things:
1. People get them because they’re cheap, but when you factor in the cost of maintenance and the longevity of the materials, the real thing is either equal to the cost if the cheap materials or is actually less expensive.
2. There’s a deep need and desire we have to be around real things. We would rather stand by an old brick building than one with a fake brick façade, even if we don’t understand why. It’s an intuitive part of humanity to crave the real.
3. Some forms of architecture are awful (in the same way a banana taped to a wall and called “art” Is awful). Brutalist architecture is an example of pointless architecture that serves no purpose. (I don’t remember the name of the “father of brutalist architecture,” but I have read a few articles about how his buildings were foolish at best because they didn’t serve the needs of the people in them.
4. We have been dumbed down, even when it comes to how we decorate our homes. I have always wondered why I, as a writer, LOATHE decor with words on them. I knew that trendy clichés were a big part of it (“Live Laugh Love” makes me want to rip my hair out), but I understand another reason now: when we want a home to feel cozy, we put the word “cozy” on our decor and call it good. I’m doing this, we fail to actually make the space cozy, but we can mentally check the box. It’s laziness!
All of this to say that I hear you and I’m on board with that plan. I think that, in many ways, a return to “The old ways” could significantly help us and prolong our humanity and survival.
I love all of this, especially your remarks on lazy decorating. Also, brutalist architecture made with disposable materials is oppressing my soul.
Absolutely agree! I’m hoping that, as I work on beautifying my home, I can add some awesome pieces that are real to provide some depth to it.
I’ve been talking to a lady at my church who has a really eclectic style but makes it work (some of her stuff is Chinese, some is southwestern, some is what she calls contemporary). I’ve been asking her for advice and she’s got some strong opinions about trends I’ve fallen for in the past (like the more clean, almost clinical look in a home). I bought a bunch of gray and white paint years ago and now I have to figure out what to do with it! 😅
Yes, but what about shrooms?
Actively seeking a legal and affordable psychedelic-assisted therapy or shamanistic ayahuasca ceremony in the next 5 years, if that tells you anything.
It definitely does