Today in class, we started a poem by John Keats-'Ode on a Grecian Urn'; or rather, we were given an introduction to the times it was written in. My teacher spoke of how poets and artists were inspired by nature and that as nature was perfect, anything derived from it was also perfect. They also thought of the Greek and Roman eras as perfect. Implying that, all technological progress has brought is discontent and unhappiness in everyone's lives. That was the sentence that struck me. Not only has technological progress created discontent, it has also destroyed creativity. Its like life has become easier, so mankind has ceased to imagine!
I mean, look at it! When there were no facilities, no fancy machinery, only human labour; beautiful buildings like the Taj Mahal, the Notre Dame, the Sagrada Famiglia (although incomplete, incredibly beautiful), the pyramids in Egypt and countless other monuments that we see!
Now we have world-class technology and all we can create are the ugly skyscrapers and malls that we see popping up everywhere! Maybe that's it. When you don't have a lot, you appreciate beauty, and when you do, you pretend to! It's all part of the social status, isn't it? To appreciate Mozart's music, admire a Monet or a Renoir? What are the odds that those very people would not be able to differentiate between Mozart and an ordinary musician? I'm guessing they would be incredibly high.
People love to show that they are spiritual and cultured. That's the key word-show! The moment we start worrying about what other people think off, we cease to think and enjoy for own pleasure. So what if you don't think Picasso is brilliant? So what if you don't understand the works of Stephen Sondheim? Most people don't! At least you have the guts to admit it! We don't live to impress anybody. Nor do we live to conform to anyone else's ideas? We do live for others, but we aren't expected to change to suit their needs. The sad part is, most people already know of all this, but are afraid to raise their voice, afraid to be even a slightly bit different, lest they should be mocked. Brilliant world we live in, don't we? Liberty, Equality and Fraternity indeed!
I mean, look at it! When there were no facilities, no fancy machinery, only human labour; beautiful buildings like the Taj Mahal, the Notre Dame, the Sagrada Famiglia (although incomplete, incredibly beautiful), the pyramids in Egypt and countless other monuments that we see!
Now we have world-class technology and all we can create are the ugly skyscrapers and malls that we see popping up everywhere! Maybe that's it. When you don't have a lot, you appreciate beauty, and when you do, you pretend to! It's all part of the social status, isn't it? To appreciate Mozart's music, admire a Monet or a Renoir? What are the odds that those very people would not be able to differentiate between Mozart and an ordinary musician? I'm guessing they would be incredibly high.
People love to show that they are spiritual and cultured. That's the key word-show! The moment we start worrying about what other people think off, we cease to think and enjoy for own pleasure. So what if you don't think Picasso is brilliant? So what if you don't understand the works of Stephen Sondheim? Most people don't! At least you have the guts to admit it! We don't live to impress anybody. Nor do we live to conform to anyone else's ideas? We do live for others, but we aren't expected to change to suit their needs. The sad part is, most people already know of all this, but are afraid to raise their voice, afraid to be even a slightly bit different, lest they should be mocked. Brilliant world we live in, don't we? Liberty, Equality and Fraternity indeed!
Hello. I am going to disagree.I think it is human nature to romance about the past and to see beauty in things that once were. Personally I think there is more beauty and more apprecation of beauty than ever before. Beauty and perhaps romantic was something for the elite. The elite lived surrounded by beauty the rest of the population lived in squalors - the buildings that are works of art represent opulance and were built by the poor for the rich. I find much more beauty in a public park that we can all enjoy and I love that I can live and work in a high rise because without high rise there would be no nature left- the urban sprawl would take over the entire earth., now at least in my world I can visit a park , sit by the sea, enjoy all that beauty has to offer. I am also glad that technoloogy has liberated me (the washing machine was the most liberating technologhical advancement for women) so I for one celebrate what we have now and I do believe we live in a brilliant world where we can dream, create and imagine as individuals. Heather
ReplyDelete