Cultural Concept Of Wabi Sabi
The cultural concept I will be discussing is that of Wabi-sabi and how I came to see it as not only engrossing, but increasingly relevant in Westernized culture. By no stretch of the imagination have I ever considered myself perfect. I have flaws and short comings that often fall beyond my control. When I look at myself, I see beauty. But the beauty I see does not always agree with the visual experiences of others. As I get older, my flaws are maturing and have started to show signs of age. Extra weight, gray hair and wrinkles are all natural occurrences in the human experience. Despite the naturalness, these same issues are often seen as negative, and I have to deal with it.
In today’s pop culture, being flawed is now ‘in’. Musicians from …show more content…
According to Juniper, the term Wabi-sabi suggests we pursue qualities such as impermanence, humility, asymmetry, and imperfection. These principles are diametrically opposed to those of their Western counterparts, whose values are rooted in the Hellenic worldview that places value on permanence, grandeur, symmetry, and perfection. ( Juniper, 2010)
Being a product of the ‘Hellenic’ viewpoint, I myself find the notion of applying Wabi-sabi to my own life very freeing. Wabi-sabi is a visceral appreciation of beauty that reflects the constant movement of the world. It is in unpretentious beauty that broken, imperfect, or even decayed, can exist. The contrast to Western principles is rooted in the contrast to our philosophical premises of power, authority, dominance, engagement, and control, whether of others or of nature. The guiding principles of Wabi-sabi fall into nine categories. (Koren, 1994) Although the following category descriptions are in reference to the act of making art, I have found they can be applied to a myriad of real life scenarios.
1.Type - Materials used are organic, not synthetic. They should not be polished or cleaned or adulterated to appear new or …show more content…
I now prize myself and the things around me that show signs of age. I find beauty in the things that are dated, and considered old. I no longer feel the pressure to consume or conform to unattainable standards. On a recent family trip to Paris I reveled in the history of the city. I took time to appreciate the ancient buildings and art, particularly the blemishes, wear and tear. When the apartment we rented had problems (issues that being westernized have taught me to hate), I took them with stride. I smiled and reminded myself of where I was and to enjoy my life; not worry about the old plumbing and the smelly sewage
In today’s pop culture, being flawed is now ‘in’. Musicians from …show more content…
According to Juniper, the term Wabi-sabi suggests we pursue qualities such as impermanence, humility, asymmetry, and imperfection. These principles are diametrically opposed to those of their Western counterparts, whose values are rooted in the Hellenic worldview that places value on permanence, grandeur, symmetry, and perfection. ( Juniper, 2010)
Being a product of the ‘Hellenic’ viewpoint, I myself find the notion of applying Wabi-sabi to my own life very freeing. Wabi-sabi is a visceral appreciation of beauty that reflects the constant movement of the world. It is in unpretentious beauty that broken, imperfect, or even decayed, can exist. The contrast to Western principles is rooted in the contrast to our philosophical premises of power, authority, dominance, engagement, and control, whether of others or of nature. The guiding principles of Wabi-sabi fall into nine categories. (Koren, 1994) Although the following category descriptions are in reference to the act of making art, I have found they can be applied to a myriad of real life scenarios.
1.Type - Materials used are organic, not synthetic. They should not be polished or cleaned or adulterated to appear new or …show more content…
I now prize myself and the things around me that show signs of age. I find beauty in the things that are dated, and considered old. I no longer feel the pressure to consume or conform to unattainable standards. On a recent family trip to Paris I reveled in the history of the city. I took time to appreciate the ancient buildings and art, particularly the blemishes, wear and tear. When the apartment we rented had problems (issues that being westernized have taught me to hate), I took them with stride. I smiled and reminded myself of where I was and to enjoy my life; not worry about the old plumbing and the smelly sewage