Slightly OT: The antidote to consumerism is...art?

This article about art as an antidote to rampant consumerism really hit home with me:

http://www.scoutiegirl.com/201.....s-art.html

I've already commented over at Already Pretty, but I copied and pasted my comment to the forum because I'm really interested in this idea, and it is much more likely to generate a lively discussion over here. And since so many of our personal "things" are in fact clothes, shoes and accessories, I don't think it's off-topic.

I've been mulling that topic around in my mind for about a year now, after reading somewhere (newspaper article, maybe? I wish I could provide a citation) that 100 years ago, most people only owned 100 or fewer personal "things" in their lifetime. Things were proportionally more expensive, which meant each item was valued, and thus well looked-after. With the advent of mass production, items tended to become cheaper and thus less valuable...so we have more stuff, and value it less. Perhaps if we did look at each item we own as "art", or at least as a beautifully crafted object, we'd attach more value to them, and help break the cycle of more-cheaper-more-cheaper.

One thing I can't help but notice is that items made out of natural materials, like wool, metal, wood, leather and so on, tend to age better, or at least more beautifully, than their plastic or otherwise man-made counterparts. I don't mean they necessarily hold up better -- plastic is an amazing substance that has enabled things like, say, a massive leap forward in health care -- but in terms of beauty, the natural materials tend to still look nice with age, whereas the manmade ones do not. (I'm sure there are exceptions). For example, a well-crafted wooden or metal object develops an appealing patina with age. Leather boots or coats can look great despite (or perhaps because of?) being a little beat-up. Items made with natural materials, and especially handmade ones, often cost more to make -- but I'm starting to think that's a fair trade. I'm a big fan of beautiful things. Lasting beauty in an object makes me value it more, and in turn makes me less likely to want to go out and buy a new one to replace it (or add to a collection). And I really like the idea of properly taking care of the items you have.

13 years ago

Kiwichik

Veteran

I didn't read the whole article but did read all your comments & I agree that if we treated each thing we owned as a valuable art work (assuming that we are actually able to find sonething that fit the bill) we would value & keep things for longer.
However economically we are encouraged to consume. Items are made so that they do not last & we are forced to replace said item when it wears out. You could argue that Fashion which can be viewed as an artistic outlet is just another way for buinesses to encourage the consumer to spend. It is important to encourage the consumer through a myriad range of overt & subliminal messages to want that trendy item - the latest dress or handbag, the latest phone etc.
We have far more leisure time than our ancestors do & consumerism seems to be the fastest growing sport. Shopping Malls are our new face to face social interaction zones. The Web brings global shopping into the home.

Echo

I thought about this a lot at the end of last year, and how many items I own that mean nothing. I decided that this year I would try to consciously avoid over-consuming and walk away from as many items as possible. I then made a list of items I could afford if I did this, and made it my goal to purchase a few of these things this year in lieu of boxloads of disposable things.

I have to admit that it is easy to get sidetracked and seduced by sale prices of a "just this once" mentality. But overall it is a process and I am doing better. I hope to purchase a few higher quality, lasting pieces this year to show for it.

But Kiwichick raises a good point in that even if one is shopping with artistry and quality construction in mind, it is still SHOPPING and consuming. I think more of us (especially me) need to focus less on consuming or purchasing anything at all. I think this forum is especially helpful, actually, because although it has a focus on fasion there is also an emphasis on buying while being mindful of what a person needs and how anything new will fit into an existing wardrobe. Unlike other places, I see as many purchases here kindly discouraged instead of encouraged, and it is refreshing to see a community that doesn't promote the buy, buy, buy ethic regardless of usefulness or need.

Fruitful

I agree with every word you posted Elisabeth.

However (^_^) when I saw the title of this thread I thought you meant something else - that our driving need to consume is actually our life force being thwarted and twisted away from what it really wants to do, which is to create (i.e. make art). That creativity is a healer of consumption addiction. When we are creating our focus is naturally taken away from buying. We are in the flow, not restlessly looking for that distraction, and experiencing a deep and lasting satisfaction shopping can never provide.

That answers Echo's point that shopping with artistry in mind is still shopping. Actually making art would engender a more profound shift in focus.

Elly

At the same time, there is also all the time and societies that existed before western culture developed. Pre-agriculture, in many areas people were nomadic hunters and gatherers. People carried whatever they owned with them on their backs, so they owned very little. It didn't mean that people didn't value what they had, because there was significant work and skill put into many things. That said, a huge number of belongings were disposed of in the seasonal moves. Simply put, human energy and health and the safety of being relatively unburdened was more important.

Little known fact--- hunter gatherers have more leisure time than all other types of societies.

Still, I appreciate what you are saying. It is the old quality discussion. Things are beautiful when well made with a purpose-- brilliant design is functional, and therefore beautiful. Good design is like beautiful handwork-- the energy of a person harnessed.

Being a museum type, part of the deal is conservation of things. However, there is also the recognition that objects get their value through their use and sometimes continued use or purpose is more important. There is also the understanding that conserving doesn't always mean stopping all deterioration and freezing time in unnatural ways. Conserving objects is about preserving knowledge for the future--- and part of knowledge is the recognition that objects have life cycles, especially things made of natural materials. Even seemingly inert objects like ceramics breathe, respirate, sweat, swell and shrink with changes in temperature and relative humidity and exposure to environments.

I guess I see it this way . . . the antidote is valuing people (including the products of their creativity that blood sweat and tears went into) rather than "getting" things. Basically showing respect for things is a way of showing respect for people, and it is easier to see the inspiration and work and the hands that went before us in quality, beautiful pieces. Humans also have a reverence for nature (people have been inspired and in awe of it for thousands of years) and natural materials can bring that appreciation out.

Sylvia

(website)

Active Member

I very much agree with this. Even though I cannot help but me tempted by cheap fashion and other cheap things, I think it's much more valuable to only buy quality. I certainly do this for my house, but not always for my wardrobe. I'm very much drawn to statement pieces in fashion and jewelry and am hoping to add more of those in the future and less 'fast' fashion.

Janet

As an artist, I read the subject line in much the same way Fruitful did, but I agree with your points too, Elisabeth. The intersection of art/craft and commerce is something that's been very much on my mind lately. I think I'd like to have another cup of coffee before I delve any deeper!

Suz

Just echoing what Fruitful and Janet have said here; I read the subject line as they did. But I also agree with what you have said, Elisabeth.

I would rather pay more for something beautiful that will stand the test of time. Having said that, it hasn't prevented me from accumulating far more than 100 objects! Mind you, my numbers may be skewed since most of my objects are books and small works of art.

Aziraphale

Fruitful, Suz and Janet -- funny how you all read the header the same way! And I do agree with you on that point, too. As an artist myself, I can wholeheartedly agree that process of creation commands one's full attention in the most positive way, and both the results and the process itself are immensely rewarding. I often tell my daughter (especially when I'm encouraging her to practice her violin) that nothing makes you feel better about yourself than the sense of accomplishment that follows creative effort.

Even writing, which I do not do for a living but which, for me at least, requires real effort, is satisfying. I don't write a blog. I don't record things in a diary. I write emails to friends, and I write comments on this forum, and even those minor creative endeavors leave me feeling like I've used my brain in some small but real way.

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