I wonder how much the changes in what is considered timely come from rebellion. Fashions and trends tend to change with generations, and it may well be that those changes come not from a desire to improve but a desire by the younger generation to be different from the older generation. Rock 'n roll comes to mind. The long hair and fashions of the 70s. Yes, I was there and remember them well. In watching the Ken Burns documentary on the history of country music I noticed that each generation did things differently than the one before. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. Do social trends follow the same course? When my wife and I were house hunting, she would complain about fixtures being outdated. Of course, I was fine with them as long as they were functional. But does the new fashion in fixtures emerge because they are no longer functional or because after a few years people want something different.
Now, on to the video. That was phenomenal! My wife walked down the aisle to a simple piano rendition of Ode to Joy. Timeless, timeless, timeless.
I definitely agree that the pursuit of difference drives much of the social upheaval, but when the dust settles (and now, for me, as I'm getting older) the ideas that are worth anything seem to stick around throughout the generations, plinking along and picking up character along the way.
I wonder how much the changes in what is considered timely come from rebellion. Fashions and trends tend to change with generations, and it may well be that those changes come not from a desire to improve but a desire by the younger generation to be different from the older generation. Rock 'n roll comes to mind. The long hair and fashions of the 70s. Yes, I was there and remember them well. In watching the Ken Burns documentary on the history of country music I noticed that each generation did things differently than the one before. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. Do social trends follow the same course? When my wife and I were house hunting, she would complain about fixtures being outdated. Of course, I was fine with them as long as they were functional. But does the new fashion in fixtures emerge because they are no longer functional or because after a few years people want something different.
Now, on to the video. That was phenomenal! My wife walked down the aisle to a simple piano rendition of Ode to Joy. Timeless, timeless, timeless.
I definitely agree that the pursuit of difference drives much of the social upheaval, but when the dust settles (and now, for me, as I'm getting older) the ideas that are worth anything seem to stick around throughout the generations, plinking along and picking up character along the way.