2005-12-30
Romanticism
The dark days at the end of the year, a time to light candles. Candles. It’s so romantic. One would not expect that I, a man of science and technology, would light candles, but for people like me there are new candles, electric ones.
Alright, I’ll be honest about it. I didn’t find it myself. Someone else handed me this oddity, thought it would interest me. And indeed, it is a very interesting thing. Not from the perspective of the technology and absolutely not from a scientific point of view. But, philosophically it is an interesting object. The question is: can an electric candle be romantic?
These plastic electric candles make one thing clear: we lost contact with nature. Hey, wait a minute. When started the age of Romanticism? Wasn’t this in the middle of the Industrial Revolution? Romanticism had its break through when engines were becoming part of our life. We were gaining control over nature. Romanticism was possible, because we were getting less dependent on nature and nature was not dangerous anymore. Before there was electric light a candle was a necessary item. So it couldn’t be romantic; it was common. If you don’t have a warm house, it is not romantic to sit outside next to a fire. It is just like the blues. Singing the blues is really great if there is somebody at home waiting for you.
I’ve just been to a nice exposition on Romanticism: Masters of the Romantic Period, Dutch painting 1800-1850. Looking at those pictures one thing struck me. There is a passion for nature and man is above nature. Nature is chaos, wild. Nature is beautiful, but only just now, because we are gaining control over it. Even in storm and rain there is still a brilliant light and peacefulness. Look at the people on Romantic paintings. The people are not really affected by the cruelty of nature. They are mostly satisfied. Why? I think it is because they can choose between rough nature and comfort at home.
Another interesting point about the Age of Romanticism is that the first organisations for the protection of nature were founded in this age. So, Romanticism became possible due to technology and control over nature. I would say Romanticism is to choose (temporarily) for less control: no engines, no clocks, just let things happen.
Back to the electric candle. It is not romantic, because it has a power switch giving very simple control over its functioning. Finally, the thing I don’t like about this electric candle is the lack of power. You can’t play with it, melt something or burn something. That’s what a scientist likes.
Alright, I’ll be honest about it. I didn’t find it myself. Someone else handed me this oddity, thought it would interest me. And indeed, it is a very interesting thing. Not from the perspective of the technology and absolutely not from a scientific point of view. But, philosophically it is an interesting object. The question is: can an electric candle be romantic?
These plastic electric candles make one thing clear: we lost contact with nature. Hey, wait a minute. When started the age of Romanticism? Wasn’t this in the middle of the Industrial Revolution? Romanticism had its break through when engines were becoming part of our life. We were gaining control over nature. Romanticism was possible, because we were getting less dependent on nature and nature was not dangerous anymore. Before there was electric light a candle was a necessary item. So it couldn’t be romantic; it was common. If you don’t have a warm house, it is not romantic to sit outside next to a fire. It is just like the blues. Singing the blues is really great if there is somebody at home waiting for you.
I’ve just been to a nice exposition on Romanticism: Masters of the Romantic Period, Dutch painting 1800-1850. Looking at those pictures one thing struck me. There is a passion for nature and man is above nature. Nature is chaos, wild. Nature is beautiful, but only just now, because we are gaining control over it. Even in storm and rain there is still a brilliant light and peacefulness. Look at the people on Romantic paintings. The people are not really affected by the cruelty of nature. They are mostly satisfied. Why? I think it is because they can choose between rough nature and comfort at home.
Another interesting point about the Age of Romanticism is that the first organisations for the protection of nature were founded in this age. So, Romanticism became possible due to technology and control over nature. I would say Romanticism is to choose (temporarily) for less control: no engines, no clocks, just let things happen.
Back to the electric candle. It is not romantic, because it has a power switch giving very simple control over its functioning. Finally, the thing I don’t like about this electric candle is the lack of power. You can’t play with it, melt something or burn something. That’s what a scientist likes.
2005-12-25
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas! With some reflexions in Gouda.
If you’ve got friends in Gouda it is very likely that you’ll get a card with either the coloured town hall or the Christmas tree for Kongsberg. This year we had another 'Gouda bij Kunstlicht' event. It starts right after Kaarsjesavond and is more fun. With Kaarsjesavond they turn off all the electric light and burn only candles on the market place and in the town (which is on the centre of the market place). The next day (to compensate the day before?) they turn on many electic lights, because 'Gouda bij Kunstlicht' starts. The town hall is illuminated with coloured drawings made by the French artist Patrice Warrener. At first I thought it was kitsch. But after a second look I liked it. I saw details I never saw before. The artist gives you a new perspective. After years I rediscovered the town hall again. It even seems that in the 15th century when the town hall was built it had quite colourful painting. Well, maybe not so colourful as last night. But it was not the pale grey building it is since the 19th century.
If you want to see it yourself you have to visit Gouda next year. This year’s event has ended. However, the Christmas tree of glass will not be there anymore. It will go to Kongsberg, the city that offers a real tree to Gouda every year.
There are some more pictures on my homepage Gouda bij Kunstlicht.
If you’ve got friends in Gouda it is very likely that you’ll get a card with either the coloured town hall or the Christmas tree for Kongsberg. This year we had another 'Gouda bij Kunstlicht' event. It starts right after Kaarsjesavond and is more fun. With Kaarsjesavond they turn off all the electric light and burn only candles on the market place and in the town (which is on the centre of the market place). The next day (to compensate the day before?) they turn on many electic lights, because 'Gouda bij Kunstlicht' starts. The town hall is illuminated with coloured drawings made by the French artist Patrice Warrener. At first I thought it was kitsch. But after a second look I liked it. I saw details I never saw before. The artist gives you a new perspective. After years I rediscovered the town hall again. It even seems that in the 15th century when the town hall was built it had quite colourful painting. Well, maybe not so colourful as last night. But it was not the pale grey building it is since the 19th century.
If you want to see it yourself you have to visit Gouda next year. This year’s event has ended. However, the Christmas tree of glass will not be there anymore. It will go to Kongsberg, the city that offers a real tree to Gouda every year.
There are some more pictures on my homepage Gouda bij Kunstlicht.
2005-12-07
Cooking
"When a Dutchman prepares a dinner he follows the recipe strictly and tastes it when it is ready to be served (he is satisfied when he has succeeded to follow the instructions); a Belgian looks which ingredients are available and makes a dinner after a recipe that he has once heard, meanwhile he tastes and adjusts: he is only satisfied when it tastes good." This statement is not mine. Paul Wouters, a Belgium author living in The Netherlands, made it. I don’t know if there is any truth in it, but it’s a nice illustration of my previous posting about art. It’s the difference between the artist and the engineer.
The Dutchman works like an engineer. He applies the instructions. The Belgian works like an artist. For him cooking is a creative process. Every dinner is unique. The result depends on available ingredients, what he remembers of a recipe and his taste.
Note that when the engineer has found a good recipe, he can give it to his neighbour engineer, who will be able to make the same dinner. However, if the recipe is of a poor quality it will remain so. The artist on the contrary will take the poor recipe and make a good dinner, but is also able to make a very poor meal with a good recipe.
Anyway, it’s better to have an engineer or artist in the kitchen than a scientist. The scientist can make an awful dinner and afterwards be very happy, because he learned something new and argue that he has found out why it doesn’t taste good.
The Dutchman works like an engineer. He applies the instructions. The Belgian works like an artist. For him cooking is a creative process. Every dinner is unique. The result depends on available ingredients, what he remembers of a recipe and his taste.
Note that when the engineer has found a good recipe, he can give it to his neighbour engineer, who will be able to make the same dinner. However, if the recipe is of a poor quality it will remain so. The artist on the contrary will take the poor recipe and make a good dinner, but is also able to make a very poor meal with a good recipe.
Anyway, it’s better to have an engineer or artist in the kitchen than a scientist. The scientist can make an awful dinner and afterwards be very happy, because he learned something new and argue that he has found out why it doesn’t taste good.
