By Clay Wainscott
Humans can evolve at an astounding rate because long ago we gave up physical change in favor of mental redefinition–of ourselves, of the world, catapulting through history in periodic jumps as our conception of ourselves expanded. How we see ourselves in turn determines how we see everything else, and in modern times there are powerful influences competing at this most basic level. Advertisers seem to know how images influence thinking and so do politicians. They want to help us determine who we are around the clock, but it’s really up to us. From a seemingly infinite array of information sources and forms of entertainment we choose what to look at online, which designer stores to frequent at the mall, and all that determines who we are and who we’re going to be in the future. It’s not a new idea but if we understood the process maybe we could take more control of the ship, or at least lean in the desired direction.
We no longer need to be convinced of the connection between the condition of our bodies and our sense of wellbeing. Lifting those weights and pedaling the stationary bike will change the physique; avoiding processed foods will clear the arteries. Whether we act on it or not most would agree that’s the case. Even fast food franchises are offering healthy alternatives because so many customers are considering their future selves as well as their grease-loving here and now taste buds. Yet while we acknowledge the physical side, exercise and diet, we may be less discriminating about the mental side, what we see. The cop shows and athletic competitions, the back-to-back truck commercials, and the patter of talking heads represent empty calories in our visual diet, leaving our mental state flabby and dull. What can the average person do to get in shape, to tighten their thought process and refresh their senses?
Some would say video games sharpen the reflexes, and access to all the information there is on a hand-held should broaden the intellect, but maybe it’s too soon to tell. There is an older technique for altering world view and changing how individuals see themselves, and it’s available to anyone. In this age of digital reproduction it’s called original art, direct from the hand of the artist. Encoded in a work of art, beyond the reach of verbal explanations, are intimacies of thought not encountered on billboards or in magazine ads. Original art owned and seen every day enables the nutritional intake of everything else we see, like a daily dose of vitamins which, oddly enough, seem to grow more potent year by year.
Buying art is an investment in the future self, a positive influence on who we’ll become as we mature and evolve on our own. It’s an effect that’s hard to measure but easy to see in others, and they’ll tell you about it if you’ll listen. Owning art is a way to express your own uniqueness and sense of self, a final lap in the long process of evolution.
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