The Age Of Elegance~~Do We Still Have That Anymore?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
May 6, 2008 11:52pm CST
I had started a discussion about alternative endings in movies, and a friend of mine here started a discussion about cruises. And it got me thinking. My alternative movie ending discussion gave a link to the alternative ending of Titanic which I thought was better than the theatrical version of it seen in the movies...so this lead me to the whole idea of cruises and how luxury ships USED to look like.
If you saw the movie Titanic the designers/scenic artists recreated the ship and its interior from sketches and old photographs of the original ship that sunk on April 14,1912. To my mind if that was how not only the Titanic but all luxury ships looked like at that time I'm thinking, wow, what elegance, what beauty and craftsmanship went into it--uh, of course the cabins for the poorer class wasn't so great as due to that whole "class" thing anyone below first class was considered beneath them
But here I am thinking in terms in general...I don't know about you but I've seen photos of today's cruise ships...and they pale in comparison...too much glitz for my tastes...as compared to the rich warm, wood paneling of the luxury cabins of the Titanic lets say. Even the older luxury cars had a finesse that just doesn't exist in today's car that are rather junky looking--even the top notch expensive cars are dull in comparison
Homes of old say made prior to the 1930s, still had expert craftsmanship as well, the moldings, carvings on walls, ceilings, painstaking detailing everywhere, etc.--absolutely breathtaking
Anyway...this all seems to suggest an age of elegant that we just don't have anymore...does anyone else feel this way? That in today's society with our rush to get things made zoom, zoom, zoom quick that elegance and real craftsmanship has gone out the window? That no one takes the time or pride to really create real beauty for anything anymore? Or is it just me being a tad old-fashioned?
Oh by the way...this photo of the bedroom of a luxury yacht is one for charter at $25,000 A DAY
Heck this bedroom on the yacht is a hundred times better looking than my own bedroom which makes mine look like a fourth class cabin on Titanic...LOL
1 person likes this
9 responses
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
7 May 08
Such ship still exist... and so does furnitures and houses. But those things are today reserved for the ultra rich who can afford it.
The cost of labour is prohibitive today and artistry is very time consuming. So is the cost of good timber. You see this facet in almost everything in the building industry.
People want cheap... so they get cheap.
But as a house painter... I have been involve in the restoration of many old houses in Sydney. And my rich clients do spend the money to have moldings on their ceilings, carvings on their woodwork and marble on their verandah and kitchen bunch.
As for cars... well... that is a matter of opinion. I don't feel nostalgic about old cars.
1 person likes this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
8 May 08
Yeah... that sort of car is made for the guy who is so busy managing his billions that he cannot afford to sit in the back of a car and have a rest.
My only interest in cars are the racing kind. The US made some great cars like the Ford Mustang and the Pontiac Firebird from "Smokey and the Bandit". Those would be my two favourite American cars.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
PS...just found out...this car can be yours for a mere $375,000 --sheesh
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
OMG--I remember the old Firebirds...remember the GTOs?? Loved them, and yes the classic Mustangs
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
7 May 08
Have you looked at that show about dream homes?
I have seen nothing in one that I would want.
and houses today are way to small realy
Oh to go back and have them build the space into homes like they used to with those long banisters ya could slide down.
Am with you they throw them up to fast and really dont think of comfort some of teh bathrooms are no biger than a smal closet.
Our house dont have all the old frills but was built in 64 so it does have space and we do have a yard not like the postage stamp yard up in the new houses
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
8 May 08
No its called something like dream homes that are being built now and they have winners for them not sure how it works I only seen part of it enough to know I didnt like the lay of the house.
I like some of the layouts to the log cabins and I always like the victorian houses also like a big wrap aroound varanda
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
Are you talking about Great Homes & Estates? Yeah, I've seen that show..some homes aren't too bad...one website I like to haunt and "dream" is the Unique Homes one...all luxury type homes in the millions...I tend to be drawn to the English Tudor style homes or the luxury log cabin types and yes, with stairs galore to slide down the banisters...hehe
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
7 May 08
I agree with you completely. The day of the master craftsman that took pride in his work is long gone, now you have contractors that put a place together as fast as they can with the cheapest material possible and for the most amount of money they can get.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 May 08
I am going through the same here with this jerk. My windows won't close properly either, and they are new windows, but this jerk does not want to do anything.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
I have to laugh..almost sounds like my landlord...whenever he contracts some improvement type thing, he must get the cheapest shoddiest materials and labor going. Like the replacement storm windows. Those were replace about fifteen years ago...after a few years of being installed many of us can't open our windows, or they don't stay open and have to be prodded up...the windows they replaced were good old fashioned wooden and glass paned ones and were about fifty years old and weren't worn down at all
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
7 May 08
Don't forget, when the Titanic and other ships of that class were sailing, that was the ONLY way to cross the ocean. It was really more that the steerage paid a minimal amount to sail on the same ship as the first class people. Heck, those people had to bring their own food even. Understandably, if someone paid hundreds of dollars to sail across the ocean why should they look at - or smell - someone who may have paid their entire life's savings just to get a spot in steerage.
So, ships were built to cater to and attact people that would use their best class of accomdations, while still providing the trans-ocean service to people that could only afford steerage.
Today's cruise lines are not there to attact that kind of people, of either kind, they are there to be a high class hotel on water, easy to clean, with lots of entertainment for various kinds of interests, and passangers.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
8 May 08
I stayed at Harrah's last summer in Atlantic City, it was really quite nice. Not the same as the former splendor you could see that the old Shamrock Hotel in Houston used to have (now gone) but still quite nice. The bathroom was first rate - course they did have a roll in shower and shower seat for my mom that I took advantage of too.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
Yes I realize this...it's just my opinion that today's cruise ships since they don't have the same class system of old do still seem chintzy...Probably the same reason I've never been attracted to glitzy hotels...give me a quaint bed and breakfast any day...uh like my Le Jardin Enchanté..hehe
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@gemini_rose (16264)
•
7 May 08
The days when the likes of the titanic were about are long gone, people do not want that anymore it is al about modern modern modern, there are times when I think modern sucks, and times when I think modern is ugly.
The titanic was beautiful and elegant, the same as everything around that period was elegant, there is no elegance any more, houses now are all about big open spaces with hardly any furniture!!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
I can't help thinking with the sinking of the Titanic that was the beginning of the end of elegant travel by ship. Oh, and I know what you mean by modern homes with large spaces and hardly any furniture...makes me think of a museum...and the "aura" of those homes is very cold...not lived in..no character
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
8 May 08
That is exactly what I mean, there is just no love in them, its like everything in it's place and a place for everything. And everything always seems to be white, which is fine, but these people have children!! I watch the programmes on tv and they all have white and a lot of kids, how does that work!!!
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
7 May 08
Pye..love these elegant posts!
When i chose to have new cupboards installed in my fixer upper home 20 yrs ago..instead of getting already premade ones from any home store, i asked a friend thats a carpenter to make me ones..they are my most cherished items in the house that stand out..he did the bathroom ones too...
To many people just take in a hurry and except the things they get..the joy of waiting, expectations aren't there and i for one want that back and will do whatever i can to make my life that way..LOL..thanks again for making me feel good!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
Since I've lived in my apt so long I still have the original large cabinets..okay they aren't the greatest, but whenever an old tenant moves out of the building the landlord contracts people to rip out the old cabinets and replace them with cheaper particle board type wood and are about half the size of the old cabinet...yeesh==thanks will keep my old ones...
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
7 May 08
Hi pyewacket! I agree with you that back in the old days, people really commission artists and craftsmen to create masterpieces that will adorn any building, rooms, homes. Everything is done in exquisite taste and boast of grandeur and elegance. I still see a lot of craftsmen and artists who are willing to show their talent and skills but most people opted for cheap imitations of mass production of decorative items, panelings, interiors, etc.. Just my thoughts. Take care and have a nice day! 
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
As Aussie above you pointed out too, yes real craftsmanship artists do still exists, but at a hefty price, us "commoners" have to settle for the cheaper stuff..LOL..oh well, one can dream right?
@anawar (2404)
• United States
7 May 08
You can forget about ages of elegance and timeliness and craftsmenship in this world!
I love my aunt. She's in her 80's and she seems to be the last of a classy breed. She's always a lady and has all the correct manners. If you're visiting her, she has coffee and cookies for you.
When she visits someone, she always brings flowers or candy. She remembers every one of my birthdays and she calls me every few weeks.
Everything made today is made to throw away. The clothes we wear are ugly. Those women in the twenites and thirties, those women had beautiful clothes.
THe city I live in has buildings from the 1800's and the detail and love evident in the structure and styling makes me want to cry for all that has passed.
Everyone was courteous and classy, noone swore all the time or made bad or rude jokes.
I stumble across reality shows and half the words are bleeped out while girls cat fight.
Everything seems tawdry and used up. There's no good writers anymore, movies are ridiculous and music is well - not music.
I know the Titanic was elegant, but it did sink_
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
I noticed from your profile that you live in the NY area as well. NYC area is chock full of really old homes and buildings that are truly beautiful in how they were built...to think that the Frick Museum was once someone's home..yikes. The sad part though that we try to eradicate the old...so many exquisite buildings are torn down to make way for "new and improved" ones---oh, really, improved? Well I do enjoy today's movies, but lets face it most are more raz mataz glitz and special effects and very little story to them...not like the old 1930-1940 movies--they didn't even have special effects then
@chirantani (1379)
• India
7 May 08
I think in this regard the proverb "old is gold" suits the most,this elegance is not at all old fashioned,instead I think, we really lack this artistic elegance which our ancestors used to have. The architectural excellence and and best craftsmanship and the sense of elegance and beauty lacks with the rise of new technology. Probably, this is the reasons why the monuments like Taj Mahal, the Pyramids are seven wonders of the world,but the tall buildings are not.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 08
I find no real beauty in tall buildings to be honest--makes you think..will those buildings last thousands of years like the Pyramids?? Somehow I don't think so
