Veblen’s “Pecuniary Canons of Taste” vs. Ruskin’s “The Nature of Gothic” Analysis
Excerpts (introduction and conclusion)
In 1754, philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau first introduced his neologism, the “perfectibility of man”—man’s extraordinary ability to improve himself. This humanist view values progress towards an ambiguous end. “Perfect” can never be attained, which may be what is so inspiring about the strive for perfection—the opportunity for improvement is infinite. But at what cost do we get closer to a finish line that simply doesn’t exist? In this way, perfectibility can also be man’s vice.
Today, when we buy an article handcrafted by a local artisan, we are not only paying for the physical item but the story behind it. We can tell our friends that young Gustavo from Brazil made this candlestick especially for me. It is special; therefore, I am special. The imperfection makes it a unique rarity. And with our self-obsessed culture today, with all its countless ways of tailoring products, environments, and entertainment to fit the individual’s needs on the individual’s time table, imperfection is just fine; as long as we have control over it.
Film Analysis Excerpts
