****Sorry it's so long, I guess I had a lot to think about/write about from this!****
I was inspired to write this entry by a recent Psychology Today magazine article entitled "Endangered Arts." In this article, the author discusses a number of things in our society that are deemed "endangered" and quickly fading into nonexistence. Ranging from the art of writing a letter to meaningful conversation to the threat of the "Renaissance Personality" coming to an end, it was incredibly interesting to see just how many "arts" are no longer normal parts of our culture as they once were for decades and decades.
Since this class is centered in a multitude of various mediums ranging from music to art to graphic novels, I thought it would make sense to focus of the threat of the Renaissance Personality for this entry. In the article, they reference how at one time not too long ago, students could speak several languages, play the piano, and recite poetry after a meal. In their eyes, they believe that this type of person is disappearing rapidly.
While our society seems to be light years away from times in our society's past in a number of different areas, I will have to disagree with this idea. I might be biased since I go to an art school where a countless amount of my friends and peers are multi-talented in so many forms of art and constantly wow and impress me with their infinite amount of talents, interests and interdisciplinary skill set. I strongly feel that they're are so many people in this country and in this world who excel at music, writing, film and other mediums. While it is important to work to get better at each craft, I don't think that we don't see people who sort of have their hands in everything.
If someone is trained in piano or a certain instrument, but still excels in painting or singing, are they not a Renaissance Personality because they aren't an expert in all three? Also known as a "polymath," the true idea of a Renaissance person, dating back to Renaissance Italy, embodied the idea that humans should feel empowered and limitless in their abilities for development, and that people should embrace as much knowledge as possible and develop their abilities and talents as fully as possible. The definition shows that is a person whose expertise covers a large number of different subject areas but it can also mean someone who is just very knowledgeable. More and more in this day and age, we are constantly told that we need a wide array of skills in the work place such as knowing the ins and outs of blogging, using social media, using video and other mediums. I think the true leaders of the world are among us, in our age group, who are knowledgeable in so many things and will use their knowledge of a variety of interests for the better. Has this magazine truly forgotten about those who are Renaissance Personalities and have allowed those who seemingly lazy and uninterested to cloud over these talented people? Is being a Renaissance Personality a good thing or should we all just focus on one thing and become experts at that? Is having your hand in too many pots something negative? Do you think you're surrounded by Renaissance people or have they died in your eyes? I wonder.
-Regina
I have been told that I 'have my hands in too many pots', but that's the way I function. I have always lived the life in the fast lane, taking as many projects as I can. Sometimes it's hard juggling many responsibilities, but I get everything done in the end and I'm happy with this life.
ReplyDeleteIt is important that we do what makes us happy. For people with the Renaissance attitude I think it is more about constantly learning and seeking out more knowledge opposed to conquering anything.
Keep pushing yourself!
This article sounds very interesting and I enjoyed all of your musings and the thoughts that it brought up in your mind. I agree that there are plenty of young Renaissance people left in the world. I often wonder if the people who write these doomsday ideas about the youth of the population actually know any young people. I can say that I have many friends inside and outside of Columbia that would all qualify as Renaissance personalities. The people I love and surround myself with are all of the curious mindset, and thrive off learning more and new things. I don't think it is fair to generalize and I do believe there is fewer of the Renaissance attitude than there used to be, but that doesn't mean we are not out there. Maybe we are just too busy to be seen by the masses.
ReplyDelete-Kira
It's hard to say a 'Renaissance Personality' exists or has died in our day and age. With technology, everyone is capable of indulging into other fields of art. I know that, as college art students, we're forced to take other art classes in order to enhance our skills in our own trait. It's safe to say I know a handful of people who can be considered 'good' in many things art-related and not. But with a Renaissance personality being defined as someone embracing and wanting endless knowledge, I find it hard to say the people I know are qualified to be called Renaissance personalities. Though they are good at what they do, they lack passion in the field and barely scratch the surface of it.
ReplyDeleteAs a student here at Columbia, I strongly disagree with the idea of "the death of the renaissance personality." I feel like I'm surrounded with creative people that are talented in an array of art forms. Just being at Columbia gives me a constant nudging to become more involved in arts. Whether it is reading more literature, graphic novels, screenplays, or going to more movies, theatre, or galleries, I feel the desire to become more educated on the arts and participate more in the arts. I am not claiming to be a renaissance personality, but I definitely have the aspiration to embody that. I don't think if I wasn't surrounded by that personality, that I would care as much.
ReplyDelete- Zach
I've always heard people say that it's better to be great at one thing than just ok at a lot of things. I think that's true to an extent - you should focus on what you know and love - but I also think that there is so much to be gained from knowing a lot of different things. I'm primarily a writer, but not only do I write in a lot of different forms, I also do a lot of other things. I knit, I paint, I act. I'm working on learning the guitar and piano.
ReplyDeleteI think that was has classically been thought of as the "Renaissance personality" has maybe died out a little, but a new kind as emerged with all of the technology available now. We can turn our computers into musical instruments and we can find instructions on how to do almost anything, making us virtually limitless.
I don't think we have to be considered experts in multiple fields to be considered renaissance people. I think we just have to have the will and the ability to learn new things and to know more than just whatever we're best at.
That's a very interesting article and I completely agree with you that the article seems to have the wrong definition of what a Renaissance Personality is. To me, it seems like this personality is still very much alive but the talents and abilities have just changed or shifted slightly as interest and technology progresses. In fact, I feel it is very naive to believe that things would stay completely the same as time goes on.
ReplyDelete-Anastasia