One of the deadly plagues sweeping the land is one that is man-made, fostered and passed on by knowing and anxiously volunteering victims. I'm not sure exactly when it shifted. What were once simple and common tendencies we all shared, little indulgences here and there, these two seemingly interconnected concepts have mutated into the defining elements of people's lives, completely taking over many people's every conscious thought.
A few steps I think may have helped along this destruction of culture include, but are not limited to:
- Suburban sprawl and the homogenization of peoples and their entire worlds and the altering of public interaction within these worlds. This is a thesis in itself, not to be outlined here....
- Growing obsession with people on television and in movies as 'normal life' became
more monotonous. Celebrities are now built up into gods, torn down as the worst losers, and always maintain a constant and complete influence on people in environments increasingly void of character and meaning.
- Naturally, as an environment becomes lacking in an area a person seeks to fill it with something else. Things. Material things not only offer an appearance of character and fill the holes in a damaged way of life, they are also used as a way to define success. To some, a way of showing they're like everyone else, or at least the others of the 'up with the trend' crowd. To other people, things are used to try to separate themselves from others- for those sharing the material mindset, having something another lacks makes them superior.
- Even most actors have been become mere shells of people, participating in the obsessive acquirement of things to impress and fill holes. Not that actors indulging themselves in worldly ways is a recent thing, but the fact that they are also increasingly lacking in character, depth, individuality and often times talent has become apparent. Our obsessions demand their lives are held under ever-present microscopes and shared with all in magazines, reality shows and everywhere else you look. As the public builds them up, celebrities essentially become model robots*. We must gain as much information about them as possible so that we may successfully mimic, fulfilling the purpose of life as a robot.
*see post on Robotics.
- The utter saturation of celebrity life into our own through the above means has created a situation now, where people strive to not keep up with the Jones family next door, but with the celebrity on the screen in front of them. Many see themselves as a celebrity, or at least a person deserving of an audience as they attempt to look and live like those they made rich by subsiding the giant microscopes. Such examples include the small purse-size dog, the velour jumpsuit, or the big shiny SUV.
- This morphing of our culture has caused a greater number of people to dedicate their lives to the acquirement of money and material things and eroded the overall character and individuality of all participating. Shows like American Idol and virtually all reality shows clearly illustrate the average person's overwhelming desire to become rich and famous, even if it means exposing themselves in every way possible and sacrificing all sense of decency or dignity.
- While blaming bad architecture and design may seem like a stretch, when visiting places of older, traditional neighborhoods and communities and then more recent sprawl environments, examples of this change of thinking and living are far more evident.
3 comments:
I believe that an obsession with celebrity and fashion is a completely demoralizing part of our society. I agree with you. Everyone wants their moment of fame and celebrity. It is tragic really. I want to be famous like Heath Ledger or Brittany Spears because then I will be happy? It makes no sense. It is tragic. I feel sick to my stomach when little 7 and 8 year old girls are obsessed with Hannah Montana and want to be her. It is starting so early these days. I feel that it is my job as a parent to shield my kids from Disney channel divas and hopefully raise them without that desire to be famous or uber fashionable.
The problem with design is it can be trendy. Frank Lloyd Wrights prairie style is not going to ever be anything but beautiful. But these monstrosity homes being built in every inch of open space, McMansions, are atrocious, not just aesthetically, but morally too. We live in such huge spaces that it enables us to go through our day not only avoiding interaction with our neighbors but with our own families too. There are serious social/moral implications with that kind of living space, in my opinion. There are classic designs that are timeless but we live in a society where granite counter tops are all the rage (for a few years) and every season something becomes "the new black" so everyone and their dog follows the trend, consequences of such reckless consumerism be damned. It is taking is toll on the environment, on our psyches, and on the moral fiber of society. My cousin Will (remember him?) wrote a very interesting post on his blog about the moral implications of fashion and materialism. He says some interesting things that may be of interest to you.
So my question is are you up for helping us design a sustainable home? Classic design elements (no cathedral cealings, stucco, or two car garage) , perfect functionality, small to zero carbon footprint? Are you up on LEED stuff? I really am thinking if we can figure it out strawbale may be for us. Know anything about that? I've seen some that don't look like a hobbit home and am kind of excited to do some exploration.
PS....I think I am going to love your blog! Sorry if I talk to much in response, but these are the kinds of conversations I eat up!
Shucks! I've been watching "Bridezillas" and "Daddy's Spoiled Little Girl" to get some ideas for Whit's wedding. You mean I'm on the wrong track?
Hey Christian, I wandered over from Anna's link. Nice thoughts. I have to agree that the growing hollowness of our ideals (embodied by Paris Hilton and whoever is taping her) seems to be well expressed in the expanses of character-less houses that create anything but actual communities.
I'm not sure if the bland approach to home/community building is responsible for the basic flatness of our "culture," or if our emptiness is what creates the bland houses. I'd guess it is a continuous cycle with both aspects reinforcing each other.
And Anna, don't rule out stucco yet if want to go straw bale. The bales do need to breath. That doesn't mean that you'll have to put lighter-colored stucco keystones over your garage door or lighter-colored stucco quoins on the corners of your house though.
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