The whole neo-tribes concept was sparked off by two things. First, the Dana Thomas book. Second, seeing the Beckhams on the cover of W. The former merely added grist to my mill but the latter (after I realised it was not an internet mock up), well, that damn near put me into orbit.
Has the world really changed so much that we admire people like this? Or are things exactly the same as they were at the beginning of the 20Th Century? Under colonialism those who governed were no more than chip shop girls and butcher's boys. Have we acquiesced to being culturally and mentally colonized by vapid vulgarians and corporate greed for the sake of an imaginary 'lifestyle'?
For too many years now I have felt that I have been dictated to, on so many levels, not by the great and the good but by the mediocre and the stupid; two traits I find particularly repugnant.
I know this is "only a decorating blog" (your words and sentiment Ben, not mine) so what does this have to do with the decorative arts? Well, it has everything to do with it. Our consciousness is being shaped (if, we allow it) not by artisans and artists, but by corporate greed. I for one do not want more choices, I just want better things. Better things, made by people who take pride in their work and are paid accordingly, and not made by some dispassionate factory worker halfway around the world.
This is the truly tragic part of the Neophytes; they are incapable of recognizing this. They are too concerned with image to care about the process. They are not the inheritors or the curators of culture, they are merely its imitators. They ape, not their betters, but rather the vain and empty idols of celebrity. So easily gratified with so little - I detest them for not wanting more from life or from themselves.
Saturday, 22 September 2007
I am bored with this neo nonsense.
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10 comments:
BRAVO! The idea that BecksandPosh are being looked upon as ideals in any culture is horrifying. They don't have a cultured bone between them. They are arrivistes of the highest order.
Thanks fairfax - the irony of calling her posh seems to be lost on most people; she is anything but.
It sounds like we are at the point just before the "Fall of the Roman Empire".
Talking about "the mediocre and the stupid" in the "decorative" arts, visit http://jackiebluehome.blogspot.com/and read her post about a Neophyte bragging about "snaking" another Designer's work and Domino magazine having the nerve to publish it. Lots of food for thought here.
Patricia - I just read the bluehome piece - what brazen heifer ! Dreadful, just dreadful.
I left my comment and it got lost in cyberspace, so if it reappears, disregard this, I'll try to write it again:
You know those goods that are made in factories half way around the world, the masses don't care about artisans or passion. They just want resin. They want fake urns, and candlesticks and "tuscany" - they don't want antiques or original anything. Do you know how many clients hate antiques or anything they can't find at their neighbor's house? It's just taste, you either have it or you don't. And you, HOB are filled, overflowing with it.
Aww, thank you CdT. That means a lot comming from you!
Hi HBC
I just read your comment on Jackie's Blog and I loved it, straight to the point and very graphically funny.
Thanks Patricia - Ha!
Love this Post! I echo your sentiments exactly and I admire your passion. I'm so tired of being spoon fed crap by out of control "trend setters" who expect you to swallow it with a smile and beg for more! Good for you. Do I feel a revolution coming on??
Thank you Jackie - I hope so. I think more of us need to speak up and vote with our dollars. They will take not then, and only then.
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