Differences In Mindsets
The changes within the modern world we live in and the days of yesteryear are quite significant. If we just look at differences in architecture, we can see that the way things were created, such as a modern chandelier versus a traditional chandelier, the way an old Roman building is created versus one of modern times, or the differences between cabinets and the objects we keep around the house. These differences come about for practical reasons like the tools and materials available, but also due to the mindset of the people which created it.
If we note the design of churches in previous times, we can see the way the church wished to have their ideas represented. Paintings were created as “icons”, symbols of the stories from the bible that were meant to be worshipped as things from above by the people below. The Sistine Chapel, for instance, is a massive ceiling painted by Michaelangelo that creates the sensation of awe within the viewer.
In today’s society, we live a more fractured lifestyle, in which one dominate way of thinking is not adhered to by everyone. We can see in the paintings of Picasso or Salvador Dali an always-changing range of styles, as they tried desperately to not repeat themselves all the time. Someone taking the stylistic risks that these artists took in older times would be laughed out of the city, if not burnt at the stake!
It’s often thought that in modern times, we’ve achieved the most advanced way of thinking. This is certainly true in terms of the technology we use, it’s now simpler than ever to achieve any number of tasks that even as little as a hundred years ago would have needed weeks or months to achieve.
However, our comprehension of the way our mind is attached to any sort of higher power has been massively decreased. Many would see this as a good thing, as the truth of no existence of a creator has been finally revealed. This outlook obviously has an impact on the way our lives are lived. With no conscious creator to please, many have turned to artificiality and consumerism as a way to gain satisfaction. Our trust in science has lessened the role of the church, and in the sense of community within the places we live. Now a large number of our issues are solved by drugs, but the rate at which these drugs are being consumed indicates the possibility that the issues are not actually being solved.
While sensing a higher spiritual power may be impossible, it’s important that we don’t become arrogant about living as the most advanced race in history. There are still things to be learnt about what those before us have thought and how they lived their lives. By exploring the art, architecture and past of those who came before us, we can learn ways to improve our own style of living in the world.
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Tags: modern chandelier, traditional chandelier
Window Hardware | Jane | 08 February 2010 |
