Definitions of Nature/ Living with the Guilt
It appears humans have developed an unhealthy relationship with mother earth. A relationship where we as a species take, regardless of implication. We seem to have come to the conclusion that we are excused from the fundamental principle of cause and effect; actions have consequences. Long distanced are we from the harmonious equilibrium of our ancestors, whose pagan benefactors revered humanities’ symbiotic relationship with nature. Our definition of nature has become blurred, separating us from responsibility and alienating nature as the uncontrollable force. It has become: ‘Objectified as an external entity’* Perhaps it is this segregation that blinds us to the reality of the consumer society.
Is it really our fault? The ‘shop until you drop’ slogan is a stark reminder of the excessive consumption of style, where self-gratification and consumer insecurities go hand in hand. Individuals are exploited for their unsatisfiable hunger, where useless products are covered by a mask of utility; here, the kill is in the chase; a product’s potent quality dissolves on purchase, and thus the consumer is constantly redirected from product to product (Built in Obsolescence,) disregarding the old and embracing the new.
Fortunately design is here to save the day, The Green age has come to the rescue. Recycling targets, Carbon Emissions and Global Warming are just a few of the topics that have inundated our headlines for the past decade, heavily lying the onus on the Consumer’s doorstep. Forgive me for raising an eyebrow when confronted with the economies new altruistic guise, when I am bombarded by guilt complexes, I, like most suffer from compassion fatigue; I have seen it too much and find the constant proposals frustrating. I will invest in thought and perhaps spend an extra 40p on free range eggs, but I find in practice that I, like most, suffer from mañana** complex, and choose to live with the guilt despite my virtuous intentions.
References:
(*Jonathan Chapman & Nick Gant: Designers, Visionaries +other stories)
** mañana meaning tomorrow
http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/topic.aspx?id=19
http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2007/04/25/designer_bag_feature.shtml
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=419792&in_page_id=2&ct=5
It appears humans have developed an unhealthy relationship with mother earth. A relationship where we as a species take, regardless of implication. We seem to have come to the conclusion that we are excused from the fundamental principle of cause and effect; actions have consequences. Long distanced are we from the harmonious equilibrium of our ancestors, whose pagan benefactors revered humanities’ symbiotic relationship with nature. Our definition of nature has become blurred, separating us from responsibility and alienating nature as the uncontrollable force. It has become: ‘Objectified as an external entity’* Perhaps it is this segregation that blinds us to the reality of the consumer society.
Is it really our fault? The ‘shop until you drop’ slogan is a stark reminder of the excessive consumption of style, where self-gratification and consumer insecurities go hand in hand. Individuals are exploited for their unsatisfiable hunger, where useless products are covered by a mask of utility; here, the kill is in the chase; a product’s potent quality dissolves on purchase, and thus the consumer is constantly redirected from product to product (Built in Obsolescence,) disregarding the old and embracing the new.
Fortunately design is here to save the day, The Green age has come to the rescue. Recycling targets, Carbon Emissions and Global Warming are just a few of the topics that have inundated our headlines for the past decade, heavily lying the onus on the Consumer’s doorstep. Forgive me for raising an eyebrow when confronted with the economies new altruistic guise, when I am bombarded by guilt complexes, I, like most suffer from compassion fatigue; I have seen it too much and find the constant proposals frustrating. I will invest in thought and perhaps spend an extra 40p on free range eggs, but I find in practice that I, like most, suffer from mañana** complex, and choose to live with the guilt despite my virtuous intentions.
References:
(*Jonathan Chapman & Nick Gant: Designers, Visionaries +other stories)
** mañana meaning tomorrow
http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/topic.aspx?id=19
http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2007/04/25/designer_bag_feature.shtml
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=419792&in_page_id=2&ct=5
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