I think one of the worst degradations that advancements of technology have brought about is the beauty and creativity that comes with much handwork. Now that most artisans use automated systems and machines to get their work done, there is not much space for creative thinking anymore. And to save money and time, there are just basic models that have to be followed.
You can think of it across several fields, and you’ll see that things are very much different now. In the past, creativity was encouraged and rewarded. The better you are at doing certain things, the more expensive your services could be. But today, many people don’t even bother to be creative. They just do the bare minimum and charge exorbitantly. This is because the machines have made it so much easier that we don’t have to think too much anymore.
I think one major example of this is in buildings. In the past, it was rare for two buildings to look even remotely alike. This was because the builders took great care to plan it all; they designed it and used resources to make it work. For the art and designs, many of them were handcrafted. Specially made for the particular building to make it beautiful.
From the blocks to the floor, even the tile, everything served a purpose in aesthetics. Nothing was out of place. And when it was finished, it all made sense. And such buildings always stood the test of time because the materials used were always of high quality. Because builders back then were also very much invested in integrity.
However, things are very different today. When you go through reels of ‘beautiful houses’ on Facebook, they all look alike, and the only unique features are their furniture. Designs are made by machine with insane precision, and most of the time, this takes the life out of the job. It becomes regular and lacks soul.
I remember as a boy seeing gardeners work with their garden shears. The way they pruned flowers with such precision and care, turning them into the exact image they want, the kind of image that will complement the home it was beautifying. But we don’t really get that kind of dedication anymore, do we? What about chairs and tables? What about plates and cups?
In those days, the designs on China plates were handcrafted, and that was why some of them always had something different from the others. For some, they were a flaw, for others, they were just another factor that made them unique. And even then, those plates were of top quality! They could fall down a flight of stairs and still be intact. Not like the ones we buy these days, if you drop them too hard into the sink, they’ll shatter at once.
But then, I’m not saying any of this from ignorance. I know the amount of labor that would have gone into such jobs. It was definitely strenuous, and most of the time, the people didn’t get the actual value of the work they were putting in. Technology makes it all easier, but also less durable and very basic.
Our chairs these days are basic. If you search online for sophisticated chairs and give them to your carpenter to make, they’ll look at you as if you’re crazy. Tailors can’t copy designs already created to the letter; how then can they make their own unique designs? It’s as if everything we now make use of in life works only with two or three models, and that’s it. Anything else is just stress.
And sadly, we’re slowly accepting this as a way of life. It’s too bad, but what can we do? I guess the age of creativity is fading. I weep for future generations.
