Beauty and Life
Truth is beauty, beauty truth. Art imitates life, and life imitates art. Form follows function, but how would anything function in a world without beauty?
It's been said that the medieval world loathed an unadorned surface. I think any civilization which has fulfilled its basic needs will then focus on asthetics, and try to make life more enjoyable, once it has been made tolerable. I've noticed a direct correlation between the beauty of an area and its value: ugly brick rowhouses are cheaper than well-maintained ones, and house values always go up in better looking neighborhoods. It's quite possible that making an area look nicer could raise values without any change in crime or education etc. (Though to be fair, unfair wages may force people to try to keep their values low, so property taxes are lower. The importance of raising the minimum wage will come in a later rant.)
I think the world would be better with a little bit of thoughtful design. Trees planted in good spots, climbing vines to adorn walls, new painted murals, well-constructed fences, and strategically placed works of art could drastically improve the feel of a community. And it shouldn't be reserved for the rich white folks either, everybody should have access to a rich visual and spatial environment. Maybe there should be seminars in marginal areas, which could either turn to slums or decent neighborhoods, to help teach ways to make your community better looking. (If you have the chance, check out Banneker Park in DC, it's totally fallen apart. The fountain is filthy and didn't run last summer, the lights are cracked, the trees have died, and the memory of such a great guy deserves better.) In areas like these prefab suburban housing spawn beds, architects should be beaten-up-side-the-head to introduce some variety and complexity into their sophomoric landscaping and layout. "Green lawn, box, green lawn, box" just doesn't cut it, we're human beings and require a mentally stimulating environment to keep from stabbing and eating other people.
Maybe there should be a nonprofit consulting firm for this, to go through areas and find areas where things could be changed to make them less drab and boring.
It's been said that the medieval world loathed an unadorned surface. I think any civilization which has fulfilled its basic needs will then focus on asthetics, and try to make life more enjoyable, once it has been made tolerable. I've noticed a direct correlation between the beauty of an area and its value: ugly brick rowhouses are cheaper than well-maintained ones, and house values always go up in better looking neighborhoods. It's quite possible that making an area look nicer could raise values without any change in crime or education etc. (Though to be fair, unfair wages may force people to try to keep their values low, so property taxes are lower. The importance of raising the minimum wage will come in a later rant.)
I think the world would be better with a little bit of thoughtful design. Trees planted in good spots, climbing vines to adorn walls, new painted murals, well-constructed fences, and strategically placed works of art could drastically improve the feel of a community. And it shouldn't be reserved for the rich white folks either, everybody should have access to a rich visual and spatial environment. Maybe there should be seminars in marginal areas, which could either turn to slums or decent neighborhoods, to help teach ways to make your community better looking. (If you have the chance, check out Banneker Park in DC, it's totally fallen apart. The fountain is filthy and didn't run last summer, the lights are cracked, the trees have died, and the memory of such a great guy deserves better.) In areas like these prefab suburban housing spawn beds, architects should be beaten-up-side-the-head to introduce some variety and complexity into their sophomoric landscaping and layout. "Green lawn, box, green lawn, box" just doesn't cut it, we're human beings and require a mentally stimulating environment to keep from stabbing and eating other people.
Maybe there should be a nonprofit consulting firm for this, to go through areas and find areas where things could be changed to make them less drab and boring.