In the previous thread of "laughably crap replicas", the overstuffed, overscale, exaggerated proportions seem to be a familiar characteristic among all the examples. I remember LRF noting that it was strange because it actually more expensive to do. I thought to myself, they are all like this because these contemporary manufacturers tweak the designs to what they feel the contemporary market demands.
I remember working for a furniture company as they were making a transition from traditional/generic furniture (think recliners with built-in drink holders) to "modern" furniture, and the new designs looked much like that PK sofa repro. It was very hard for them to break out of the mindset of needing overstuffed cushions, and rounded corners to the arms.
But Stephen's recent post of a mega supermarket bulldozing in cottage country only seems to echo this sentiment. And do you really need that giant flatscreen?
What would we do without a big TV...Talk?
I agree with over staturation of crap replicas. The sad thing is they are usually more than double what you can get the original for. Perfect example...Harry Bertoia. Ebay has basically ruined the coolness of Bertoia pieces with all the absolutely rediculous repros of side chairs and bar stools. But back to your probably rhetorical question that I am answering anyway with another question no doubt (very Socratic method). What possibly could be better than sitting on your PK couch with your repro barcellona chairs on each side, drinking an imported beer and watching your giant financed 50" Plasma?
" What possibly could be better.....
.....than sitting on your PK couch with your repro barcelona chairs on each side, drinking an imported beer and watching your giant financed 50" Plasma?"
Are you referring to that recent Atomic Ranch ad from that company Urban Funky Retro Metro Loft Design? (joking)
The irony here is that...
This super gigantic TV the arm-folded man stands resolutely in front of is most likely teeming with nano technology.
We can rephrase the basic question in so many ways.
When did nano become better?
When did efficiency become better?
When did green become better?
When did greed become better?
When did spin, psy-ops and propaganda become better?
When did using voting machines that are hackable become better?
I have pondered the crux of your question many times and I think you stated the question the most concisely that I have heard.
My best guess at present is this: evolution produces creatures that do things because they can.
We do not ask of a dog: when did barking become better?
We accept that a dog barks, because that is what dogs do.
We do, after our pet is hit by a car, sometimes have to ask sadly, "Why do dogs have to chase cars?"
Though I appreciate the vast differences between dogs and humans, I have a hunch that most of what humans do they do because they can; i.e., it is in our evolutionary legacy to try just about anything we can try and rationalize trying it before, during and after, with whatever reasons we find expedient.
Otherwise, I don't see how one can explain the endless chain of really stupid, often heinous and evil things that human beings do, especially in groups.
For what its worth, I think this huge TV also appeals to the evolutionary legacy of vision. Evolution has produced humans with a keen sense of vision and a voracious appetite for what can be seen. In nature, without the aid of microsopes, telescopes, television, etc., a human's field of vision is often very constrained. And yet our species became hard wired to seek the high ground of vision to survive. Hence, I suspect we find it very hard to help ourselves, when it comes to BIG TVs and the like, even though what they show is largely garbage.
But this is only a guess and I always skeptical of using the theory of evolution beyond its data set, as I kind of am here. It is always wise to recall the abuse of evolution by the social Darwinists. So Caveat Emptor.
Why do humans chase big...
Why do humans chase big screen TVs? I'm not certain we have a keen sense of vision as much as a keen sense for wanting to be seen. What one sees sometimes is largely a matter of what one wants to see. On the practical side, at least the new TVs are flat - can you imagine lifting one otherwise; it would be like moving a very huge rock, and a squarish one - rather than fairly round - imagine that.
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