The Importance of Beauty

[EnigmaticWorld]

A new thread about the importance of beauty and the decline in architecture. Why do we often create or build things that are an assault on our senses these days? Why can't people have surroundings that lift their spirits?

[EnigmaticWorld]

 

[EnigmaticWorld]

 

 

[jonesthepost]

Because that’s the way the soul-less ones want it; keep the vibrations low.

 

And as well, most people these days have got their faces stuck in their devices; they couldn’t care one way or the other.

 

This ‘civilisation’ is in a rapid decline.

[EnigmaticWorld]

2 minutes ago, jonesthepost said:

Because that’s the way the soul-less ones want it; keep the vibrations low.

 

And as well, most people these days have got their faces stuck in their devices; they couldn’t care one way or the other.

 

This ‘civilisation’ is in a rapid decline.

 

No likes, but I agree.

[zarkov]

Interesting - I have been dwelling on this for while - more so recently!

 

It is evident that beauty occupies and elevates the mind, changes the perspective and contemplative nature of perception, allowing thought to progress from subsistence and the pragmatics of survival to the more adventurous possibilities that fill our dreams beyond the everyday.

Beauty in all forms snaps the mind out of the mundane and raises awareness to new levels that can shape civilisations and lead to the evolution of the mind and more.

 

I fully agree with your take on architecture - most modernist architecture is appalling, lacking in imagination, coining descriptions like purity as if to compensate somehow.

Brutalist architecture for me is the worst offender but I am sure that context could persuade me that there might be some examples of worth. Frank Lloyd Wright made a better effort of balancing hard elements but his success architecturally speaking was because he focused on horizontal features which naturally claim affinity to landscape format so sat well and made better use of golden section ratio.

When visual elements are broken down to their most simple you have the line. It is a conceptual element that does not exist in reality, but is used to define shapes patterns forms planes edges and outlines etc.  You can take a straight line between 2 points and the information required to describe that line in basically 2 points as for example a vector and the connection between. When a curve is created, you have infinitely more information contained within the line & with each progression along the curve a new piece of information is presented or is required. Much of contemporary architecture is now formed of straight lines, cold hard sterile and devoid of meaningful intent or sympathy for the surroundings or for that matter those who use inhabit and interact with those spaces.

The impact on people (by intent I believe) is greater than immediately perceived and certainly reflective of the paradigm shift we now see in people who characterise deflation, apathy, compliance, defeat, acceptance etc.

The jarring, jagged abrasive and aggressive hard edged sharp pointed and bold coloured graphics in advertisements esp TV is most notable!

There are exceptions of course and they stand out.

But generally the environment does now feel hostile & soulless in many respects!

Look at our town and city centres! Character and variety replaced with mirrored facades and glass frontages with bland structure-less expanses of nothingness! Soul destroying.

Our grandparents would feel lost, homeless.

 

90% of communication is visual.

The straight line does have a use however and that is to balance and contrast (as a foil) with the curve. within reason !

[Messenger]

I agree somewhat, Enigmatic. Those old buildings are beautiful, art really, but I would also like to see land preserved and even more fruit trees planted instead of ornamental trees. Instead of banks and gas stations on every corner. Or fast "food"/poison stores, mcdonalds etc.

Around where I live there are acres and plots of land sitting vacant or being excavated for another bank or "health" "care" clinic, while more people lose jobs and go on welfare. I wonder why the mayors don't put into action groups who will plant alkaline fruit and nut-bearing trees, beautiful orchards of green trees that flower and produce actual nutritious food which could ween humanity's dependence off of the allopathic "doctors" who are big pharma lackies. This would bring back the bees too since they have been in decline.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though but it seems that we need to go backwards. So many of the old artisans and their skill set are being lost because of technology.

[EnigmaticWorld]

21 minutes ago, Messenger said:

I agree somewhat, Enigmatic. Those old buildings are beautiful, art really, but I would also like to see land preserved and even more fruit trees planted instead of ornamental trees. Instead of banks and gas stations on every corner. Or fast "food"/poison stores, mcdonalds etc.

Around where I live there are acres and plots of land sitting vacant or being excavated for another bank or "health" "care" clinic, while more people lose jobs and go on welfare. I wonder why the mayors don't put into action groups who will plant alkaline fruit and nut-bearing trees, beautiful orchards of green trees that flower and produce actual nutritious food which could ween humanity's dependence off of the allopathic "doctors" who are big pharma lackies. This would bring back the bees too since they have been in decline.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though but it seems that we need to go backwards. So many of the old artisans and their skill set are being lost because of technology.

 

Good points.

 

Nature itself is beautiful, so more buildings that blend into the scenery that also have little to no impact on nature are definitely needed. I wouldn't mind living like a hobbit. lol

[EnigmaticWorld]

47 minutes ago, zarkov said:

Interesting - I have been dwelling on this for while - more so recently!

 

It is evident that beauty occupies and elevates the mind, changes the perspective and contemplative nature of perception, allowing thought to progress from subsistence and the pragmatics of survival to the more adventurous possibilities that fill our dreams beyond the everyday.

Beauty in all forms snaps the mind out of the mundane and raises awareness to new levels that can shape civilisations and lead to the evolution of the mind and more.

 

I fully agree with your take on architecture - most modernist architecture is appalling, lacking in imagination, coining descriptions like purity as if to compensate somehow.

Brutalist architecture for me is the worst offender but I am sure that context could persuade me that there might be some examples of worth. Frank Lloyd Wright made a better effort of balancing hard elements but his success architecturally speaking was because he focused on horizontal features which naturally claim affinity to landscape format so sat well and made better use of golden section ratio.

When visual elements are broken down to their most simple you have the line. It is a conceptual element that does not exist in reality, but is used to define shapes patterns forms planes edges and outlines etc.  You can take a straight line between 2 points and the information required to describe that line in basically 2 points as for example a vector and the connection between. When a curve is created, you have infinitely more information contained within the line & with each progression along the curve a new piece of information is presented or is required. Much of contemporary architecture is now formed of straight lines, cold hard sterile and devoid of meaningful intent or sympathy for the surroundings or for that matter those who use inhabit and interact with those spaces.

The impact on people (by intent I believe) is greater than immediately perceived and certainly reflective of the paradigm shift we now see in people who characterise deflation, apathy, compliance, defeat, acceptance etc.

The jarring, jagged abrasive and aggressive hard edged sharp pointed and bold coloured graphics in advertisements esp TV is most notable!

There are exceptions of course and they stand out.

But generally the environment does now feel hostile & soulless in many respects!

Look at our town and city centres! Character and variety replaced with mirrored facades and glass frontages with bland structure-less expanses of nothingness! Soul destroying.

Our grandparents would feel lost, homeless.

 

90% of communication is visual.

The straight line does have a use however and that is to balance and contrast (as a foil) with the curve. within reason !

 

Well said and articulated better than I could. I agree with brutalism being the worst offender too.

[Messenger]

22 minutes ago, EnigmaticWorld said:

 

Good points.

 

Nature itself is beautiful, so more buildings that blend into the scenery that also have little to no impact on nature are definitely needed. I wouldn't mind living like a hobbit. lol

I was just thinking that when you said more buildings that blend into the scenery, the first thing that came to mind was the round Hobbit door built into the hillside. 

[Storm in the garden]

I remember when I was at school a loooong time ago, and a teacher pointing out that in traditional architecture windows get progressively smaller the higher they go.

This gives the illusion of more space in a street as the buildings seem to be "leaning away" and the street opening up.

However in modern architecture all the windows in a building are the same size giving the street  an impression of closing in on people and claustrophobia.

He's right because if you walk down an old style and a new style street of around the same width and building height, the older street seems more open (provided you bother to look up obviously which is not what most people do nowadays).

 

On a related subject...What's the reason behind gargoyles?

Why are they on so many old buildings of power......government buildings, churches, banks, stately homes etc.

They obviously have significance and are sending a "message".

Why else would so many buildings be designed to incorporate something so ugly and non-existent in the real world?

Why not something pretty like an antelope or a horse ....or a fluffy bunny?

 

 

[EnigmaticWorld]

4 minutes ago, Storm in the garden said:

I remember when I was at school a loooong time ago, and a teacher pointing out that in traditional architecture windows get progressively smaller the higher they go.

This gives the illusion of more space in a street as the buildings seem to be "leaning away" and the street opening up.

However in modern architecture all the windows in a building are the same size giving the street  an impression of closing in on people and claustrophobia.

He's right because if you walk down an old style and a new style street of around the same width and building height, the older street seems more open (provided you bother to look up obviously which is not what most people do nowadays).

 

Interesting, I never knew that. Thanks

 

5 minutes ago, Storm in the garden said:

On a related subject...What's the reason behind gargoyles?

Why are they on so many old buildings of power......government buildings, churches, banks, stately homes etc.

They obviously have significance and are sending a "message".

Why else would so many buildings be designed to incorporate something so ugly and non-existent in the real world?

Why not something pretty like an antelope or a horse ....or a fluffy bunny?

 

"Many times gargoyles in Gothic churches were attached to the gutter system of the roof, with the mouth of the gargoyle acting as a spout for rainwater, helping keep the masonry from being destroyed."

 

"Just as with bosses and chimeras, gargoyles are said to protect what they guard, such as a church, from any evil or harmful spirits."

 

That seems to be the official narrative, although I wouldn't doubt that there is possibly a sinister reason. Not sure why they have to be grotesque either.

[awake]

This thread reminds me of the movie Equilibrium

[EnigmaticWorld]

Just now, awake said:

This thread reminds me of the movie Equilibrium 

 

[EnigmaticWorld]

Just want to add, examples of non-Eurocentric architecture and art is welcome too. Obviously as European I'm speaking from my own experience, but there are many wonderful creations around the globe.

[EnigmaticWorld]

I was always fascinated by this since I learned about it at r/culturallayer and stolenhistory.org a couple of years back.

 

 

[Tinfoil Hat]

It's not just architecture, it's art too (Tracy Emin   ). Driving my son to work lately I shudder every time I go past a sculpture at the roadside, which is about 15 foot high, and is a rudimentary figure of a man crafted from tubular rusty metal, with no features and a protruding, open rib cage. What would possess someone to authorise a wedge of money be spent on placing such an eyesore there. It makes me think of the wicker man.

 

How much more enchanting it would be to have something ethereal for example, like this...

 

 

Here, I've found a picture of the thing that offends my senses dauly...

 

 

Maybe it's just me & it's a personal taste thing.

[Oakwise]

Sorry to be the antithesis, but as the peacocks warn us

 

Beauty's only an illusion

Here your truth is an intrusion

A mirage is all it's ever been

 

 

 

Edited May 25, 2020 by Oakwise

[oz93666]

^^^ No ..beauty is not an illusion , like pleasure it's meant to guide us in the right direction  ... When we eat food that tastes good (pleasure) it's a signal that it's good for our body .... when room temperature feels right it means it's right for bodily health ....

 

And physical beauty when looking for a partner has been shown to be linked with health ... studies show attractive people are fitter have "healthy DNA" ... if you had an alcoholic grandfather , it will have damage Your DNA and will show in your face as attractiveness ...

We are a manifestation in flesh of the Karma  of our ancestors. 

If you are attractive , your grandparents and great grandparents ( and back for 1,000s of years)  lived good lives 

 

Do you find a heroine  addict attractive? 

 

 

So beauty is there to guide us so we find a healthy mate  ....

 

Architecture? ...It's all about the bottom line , not beauty ....how many 1000 square feet of office space you can get for a million $ 

 

Modern Art is an attempt by the cabal  to corrupt us with ugliness 

Edited May 25, 2020 by oz93666

[Storm in the garden]

25 minutes ago, Oakwise said:

Sorry to be the antithesis, but as the peacock's warn us

 

Beauty's only an illusion

Here your truth is an intrusion

A mirage is all it's ever been

 

So are you saying that it would make no difference to you whether your window looked out on a field of poppies swaying in the morning sunlight or a slab of concrete from the apartment opposite? just asking..

[rideforever]

Traditional architecture represents Conscious Man ... a man who experiences a high state of reality.  It is like the beauty of Nature, but a higher level, it is Conscious Nature - which is the role of Man.

You create what you are ... the people who make ugliness are ugly inside, in their inner functioning - they are unhappy, discordant, fragmented, negative, vengeful, desperate.  Their ugly manufacture represents their ugliness inside.

Conscious Man cannot exist without constant daily pressure against the forces of disorder, that was what the Church was for - those people continuously raised their consciousness.

 

Hobbit homes are fine, but they are like man going back into the Subconscious Natural world ... they are "real", but it is a large step down from the Conscious Architecture.

 

Golden section : period houses reduce ceiling height the further up you get ... often according to the Golden ratio, which is actually a mathematical ratio of proportions ... this is "pleasing to the eye" ... which actually means that your intelligence is functioning at a high level of meaning as you witness the building, your intelligence is calculating subconsciously the proportions.

Gargoyle : I don't know the true history, but what is underestimated is the level of conflict in this world, it is not a friendly place and the places of sanctuary here are built with a mixture of love and violence - which reflects this mixed world.  In one hand you have the Bible, in the other the sword ... and you know when to use each one.  In other words this is a world of work and requires direct engagement of the forces here ... And so Gargoyles are a bit of darkness put on the outside of various buildings to ward off negative forces and keep sanctuary inside.

Beauty an illusion :  a sentimental song to grieve over the pain of love lost whilst you watch the clouds roll overhead .... that's part of life, but another part is to enter more deeply into relationships and discover yourself, the other, and love ... to engage.  All these different moods of life eventually lead to great wisdom and joy.
 

[Given To Fly]

i can understand styles changing but when you look back at certain architecture, material designs and clothing do you not cringe ?

 

watch pre 90's or maybe even pre-80's TV shows and films.  a lot show in what in today's standards is dilapidated buildings and just plain unhygienic areas.

what was the mindset back then ? surely it couldn't be indifference to it.

 

[Storm in the garden]

22 minutes ago, rideforever said:

Traditional architecture represents Conscious Man ... a man who experiences a high state of reality.  It is like the beauty of Nature, but a higher level, it is Conscious Nature - which is the role of Man.

 

Nature is an organic living beauty which is in a constant state of evolution and change, whereas man-made 'beauty' is inanimate and static, and certainly not on a higher level.

 

29 minutes ago, rideforever said:

Conscious Man cannot exist without constant daily pressure against the forces of disorder, that was what the Church was for - those people continuously raised their consciousness.

 

The effect of the church down the ages has been control and conformity, which is contrary to raising consciousness. How can consciousness be raised when you must adhere to strict guidelines created by a someone who's only authority  is their unfounded claim to be guided by another entity?

 

41 minutes ago, rideforever said:

Hobbit homes are fine, but they are like man going back into the Subconscious Natural world ... they are "real", but it is a large step down from the Conscious Architecture

 

So, let's examine who created the "conscious architecture"?

It was probably conceived by a member or members of the elite, then designed by another member of the elite of the day, an architect.

However it would have been built by either slaves or people on a pittance. How much joy do you think these people got from creating this "conscious architecture" as they hacked away on a chunk of granite with a hammer and chisel month after month? Did they do it for their love of architecture or to merely survive?

I would hazard a guess that the remains of many of these peasants are buried within the foundations of these  grand designs as they fell to their deaths attempting to create the "conscious architecture" envisioned by the elite.

Hobbit homes are creations designed to harmonize with nature rather than overpower it, built by the creators themselves.

Give me a self-built Hobbit home any day of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

[Orange Alert]

Described as tired looking terrace houses, which would be very sought after now, are instead of being reburbished are pulled down in Paddington, West London and are replaced with now discredited, souless, towering concrete boxes seen at the start of the video and at 4 mins 48 secs.

 

 

 

[rideforever]

14 minutes ago, Storm in the garden said:

Nature is an organic living beauty which is in a constant state of evolution and change, whereas man-made 'beauty' is inanimate and static, and certainly not on a higher level.

The effect of the church down the ages has been control and conformity, which is contrary to raising consciousness. How can consciousness be raised when you must adhere to strict guidelines created by a someone who's only authority  is their unfounded claim to be guided by another entity?

So, let's examine who created the "conscious architecture"?

It was probably conceived by a member or members of the elite, then designed by another member of the elite of the day, an architect.

However it would have been built by either slaves or people on a pittance. How much joy do you think these people got from creating this "conscious architecture" as they hacked away on a chunk of granite with a hammer and chisel month after month? Did they do it for their love of architecture or to merely survive?

I would hazard a guess that the remains of many of these peasants are buried within the foundations of these  grand designs as they fell to their deaths attempting to create the "conscious architecture" envisioned by the elite.

Hobbit homes are creations designed to harmonize with nature rather than overpower it, built by the creators themselves.

Give me a self-built Hobbit home any day of the year.

 

This is everything you have been taught and everyone in the UK (and elsewhere) was taught.
Taught to distrust and destroy in yourself your avenue of growth and to worship that which will destroy you.
You have repeated it 100% correctly like a slave.
You should be much more cynical and skeptical than this.