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Why is everything so ugly?

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Re: Why is everything so ugly?

#31

Post by roenxi »

mewpmewp2 wrote: post #4

It's hard for me to understand what the author is exactly talking about without seeing more images.

The entire subject is just annoying to respond to; on the topic of beauty it is much more helpful to have people advocating a positive than decrying a negative. It is too easy to complain that the world doesn't meet an unspecified artistic standard. It probably doesn't, but without some details on what standard we're talking about there is no conversation to be had. We don't do fiddly buildings these days, but that is because we're a lot better at building these days and a big building isn't automatically a masterpiece.

Although on the art front I'm looking forward to learning what storms lie in wait for the first publicly notable pro-Trump statue in the US. It'll be a real cultural discovery.

Re: Why is everything so ugly?

#33

Post by mewpmewp2 »

ajkjk wrote: post #30
mewpmewp2 wrote: post #4

It's hard for me to understand what the author is exactly talking about without seeing more images.

Ah just walk outside in literally any city.

Doesn't even matter where I am from? I get different vibes in different cities and within the same city depending on the area as well. And does it specifically mean US cities only? I have been to US, but otherwise I'm from Europe.

Re: Why is everything so ugly?

#34

Post by Arnt »

midasuni wrote: post #7

Beauty isn’t valued in these areas by those with the resources to choose it. When the majority of people and businesses live hand to mouth, those that don’t have to constantly maximise exponential returns to their owners. Who has money to burn on “valueless” beauty Even if the cost of beauty is the same, and there is an actual value, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you are increasing maximum potential value…

(I studied architecture until I switched to CS.)

It's not beauty, exactly. It's norms.

Some places have fairly strong norms. If you own a plot of land (perhaps with an old building) in such a place and go to an architect ask for a proposal to renovate/rebuild/whatever, the architect will tell you clearly what you'll be permitted to build and what not.

In such a place, your new building will look rather like its neighbours. Unless you want to try to fight the building commission, maybe you think the voters disagree with the commission and you can force the elected officials to overrule the commission.

In other places you have a lot more flexibility, and in that case you have the option to build beautifully, and you also also a lot of less beautiful options.

You may think the second question is the key: Do people who hire architects and builders choose to build beautifully or not? I think the first one is the most important factor. The second matters seldom, because even when the choice is there, the choice is usually for such a small area that you can see five or ten independent buildings, and the overall effect will lack beauty even if one or two buildings are beautiful.

Re: Why is everything so ugly?

#35

Post by tetromino_ »

mewpmewp2 wrote: post #33
ajkjk wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah just walk outside in literally any city.

Doesn't even matter where I am from? I get different vibes in different cities and within the same city depending on the area as well. And does it specifically mean US cities only? I have been to US, but otherwise I'm from Europe.

The article is an exaggerated but decently accurate portrayal of many cities and suburbs in the US in 2024.

Europe is, I suppose, not as enshittified so far, but it's a matter of time.

Re: Why is everything so ugly?

#37

Post by mewpmewp2 »

tetromino_ wrote: post #35
mewpmewp2 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't even matter where I am from? I get different vibes in different cities and within the same city depending on the area as well. And does it specifically mean US cities only? I have been to US, but otherwise I'm from Europe.

The article is an exaggerated but decently accurate portrayal of many cities and suburbs in the US in 2024. Europe is, I suppose, not as enshittified so far, but it's a matter of time.

Honestly, where I am, I feel like cities have become better over time.

Re: Why is everything so ugly?

#38

Post by jszymborski »

I just wanted to echo the gray frustration here. I went to buy vinyl flooring (I can't afford hardwood) and the sheer amount of inexplicably "grey wood" planks was staggering. Why! Like, it's as if some alien only saw wood in an episode of I Love Lucy and wanted to replicate it.
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