One of my favorite movies is Midnight in Paris. In the movie, one of the themes is that the idea of a golden age is really a fallacy, and that we should make the most of the life and the time we're in. I find myself vulnerable to the golden age fallacy--whether I'm idealizing a moment in my own past or a past I never lived in. It's just a manifestation of the grass is greener on the other side fallacy--and I tend to always be longing for that lush, emerald grass on the other side.
So, after I watched the movie, I starting thinking about this modern time, and what makes it so great. What are the innovative or quaint or lovely things that make this time special? Here are my thoughts.
1) Freedom of religion (and the Bible in English!)
It's pretty humbling to think of the sacrifices made by William Tyndale and others to allow us to practice freedom of religion. Even in the history of the United States, members of my religion (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) have been sorely persecuted. I'm happy that today we can all worship as we choose, and all be friends too!
2) Free public education
This has to do with time, and also place, I suppose. I'm glad that our country supports free public education! According to Wikipedia, the first public high school started in Boston in 1821. I think our country offers a wonderful opportunity to those who wish to educate themselves and improve their situation. A great example of this is the neurosurgeon, Ben Carson. His single mother only had a third-grade education, but she instilled in her sons the importance of reading and education. You can read more about his story in the book, Gifted Hands.
3) Books are cheap! And libraries are free!
As a bibliophile, I'm sure glad that I don't have to go the monastery and wait a year to get a copy of my favorite book. :)
4) No voting discrimination.
Also a woman doesn’t have to be married to own property.
5) I can freaking sleep in till 11am (blessing and curse)
This modern era is the age of leisure. I can sleep in, mess around on Pandora, disappear on a run, and do whatever I like. Modern conveniences like refrigerators, microwaves, and washing machines eliminate the need to be only a house wife. Of course, the age of leisure has its drawbacks as well. Dr. Weil makes some valid points in his book Spontaneous Happiness about how an excess of leisure time can be detrimental. However, it's nice to be able to have more choice in how we spend our time.
6) Space exploration
We've been on the moon. That's pretty freakin' radical if you think about it. We can see further and further into the Universe, and it's amazing and beautiful.
7) Easy access to travel
Cars, planes, trains. We like to go go go these days, and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to see and experience other places in the world.
8) The internet
As Hilary Clinton pointed out in her "Remarks on Internet Freedom" speech, the internet is a tool like any other, and can be used for good or for ill. However, I want to focus on the positives of the internet--connectivity and inquiry. I can show pictures to my family scattered across the US. I can google "comma splice" and instantly get information. As a side note, a friend from work commented that when she first went to college, her professors would always write "comma splice" on her papers, and she never knew what it was. And since those were the days before the internet, she couldn't just google "comma splice" and figure it out! I love having information at my finger tips.
9) Cell phones and bluetooth ear pieces
I'm a late adopter, so I don't have a smart phone. I can't use my phone as a gps or look up a phone number while I am away from the house. But I can call my mom while driving home from work. And I can have a marathon phone conversation and not get a neck cramp from holding up the phone with my shoulder. Hollah.
10) Bionic hands and eyes
(and the fact that I am not in a wheelchair)
There are of course, a myriad of amazing modern medical developments. In Midnight in Paris when the main character has his epiphany about the fallacy of the golden age, he mentions antibiotics. I myself appreciate the rod in my back which enables me to run and do many things I wouldn't be able to do otherwise. (I once had an insensitive doctor tell me that if I didn't have my surgery, then when I was 18 I would be in a wheelchair, be a human pretzel, and put the hunchback of Notre Dame to shame.) I also have prosthetic ear bones, which is really rad. And I recently read some articles about a bionic eye and bionic hand that can actually give the user the sense of touch.
11) Modern music
After I watched the movie Midnight in Paris, I immediately wanted to own the soundtrack. Originally, they hadn't produced one yet, so I asked for a Cole Porter CD for Christmas. It's quite excellent. But, we have some pretty hip modern music coming out all the time too. One of my recent favs is Madness by Muse.
12) Modern fashion can be cool
After I watched the movie for the first time, I found myself being highly wistful about the beautiful dresses worn in that era, (which is ironic considering the theme of the movie). Observe the lovely Marion Cotillard below.
I love her headpiece. I love the beautiful detailing on her dress. Sigh. But fortunately, I got to revel in the gloriousness of the 20s recently at the Gatsby Black and White party that I will post about shortly. Also, modern fashion has it's perks. I can choose to dress retro, if I so choose. I can dress up fancy smancy if I want to. And, I can dress really comfortably if I please. Yay for pants, running shorts, and sneakers. Though I may fantasize about beautiful dresses, usually for me, comfy is king.
13) Modern architecture
Architecture of the past is also something that we can idealize. But a lot of modern buildings can be really cool. I found an interesting website that shows some cool stuff. Of course, we all know that the modern love affair tract homes sucks (the life out of communities, that is). We all love the idea of living in unique older homes. And the cool thing is--we can, if we want to. Furthermore, some modern architecture actually uses reclaimed materials and even whole structures.
Architecture of the past is also something that we can idealize. But a lot of modern buildings can be really cool. I found an interesting website that shows some cool stuff. Of course, we all know that the modern love affair tract homes sucks (the life out of communities, that is). We all love the idea of living in unique older homes. And the cool thing is--we can, if we want to. Furthermore, some modern architecture actually uses reclaimed materials and even whole structures.
I love this picture because it suggests that civilization builds on itself. The great thing about living right now is that we have all that (the past) and all of this (the present). We can learn from the mistakes in history and treasure the jewels of the past as we march confidently into the future.
As Jesus Jones says:
Right here, right now
There is no other place I want to be
Right here, right now
Watching the world wake up from history
There is no other place I want to be
Right here, right now
Watching the world wake up from history
