[Last modified: October, 24 2024 10:26 PM]
The activity takes place in the vicinity of the Department of Anthropology, I walk around observing and absorbing and making mental notes on whether I can identify people and buildings for their cultural, art, or ethnic inclinations/identities. I happen to fail miserably with deciphering these amongst people as the way people express themselves with clothing, body decoration, and accessories are more standardized, sanitized, and generalized, which makes me assume that probably more people are dressing for practicality and less for aesthetic beauty. It could very well be an influence / external force of trying to fit in, or maybe the after-effect of globalization where we are exposed to the things around the world that we evolve out of our individuality and mix up elements of experiences that influence us or mold us continuously.
The same extends to the architectural representation in the buildings around us – I witness the Gothic, High Renaissance, and also art deco styles of buildings (that blended ideas of beauty and functionality) sitting in the same vicinity of buildings with clean, Bauhaus style of aesthetic – that focuses on function over form, or to be accurate functions over decoration.
Being oversimplified under the minimalism trend was a refreshing change two decades ago but now seems to make everything too sanitary and radically functional over artistic value. The sense of individuality, personal style, and representation is overshadowed by herd mentality (a form of neo-colonisation I believe) in popular culture that reflects in the decisions that drive the world around us.
This phenomenon of over-simplification and generalized style isn’t far-fetched from the capitalistic industrial revolution that idealizes repetitive, set in stone, mechanical systems, under the garb of efficiency. That brings me to think about how or which of these arguments (decoration or over-simplification) add more value to human life. While great philosophers guided the world to simplify their lives, does it mean you stop enjoying the small pleasures of adorning one’s body or habitat too? I wonder, if the popular “beauty in simplicity” phrase owes to the beauty beyond the surface, maybe in the materials, or in the process, but that is a discussion for another time.
- Questions to ponder – what changes were purely aesthetic decisions (inspired by Nordic approach and sensibilities), and how many were for functional or cost benefits?
