There is so much evil in the world right now. I know that I should probably be alerting the public of far more pressing matters, but I have an itch in need of scratching. I have a bone to pick, and that bone is the rampant ugliness plaguing every facet of society right now.
My opinion may be on the dramatic side, but I promise that it’s warranted. The ugly is everywhere: Buildings, clothing, furniture, movies and TJ Maxx’s merchandise have all been infected with ugliness.
There are so many things wrong with gentrification: the displacement of natives, an increase in the cost of living; the list goes on. But does gentrification really have to be ugly on top of all of that? As someone who lives in a neighborhood that’s in the process of being gentrified, I just won’t stand for it.
Every new apartment complex looks like it was delivered in an Amazon box, just to later have the devil siphon out every bit of its soul. I’m starting to believe that the architects who built them should have their degrees immediately revoked, and have to go through some form of punishment for making me endure their egregious designs.
If we have to push Black, immigrant and low-income families out of their neighborhoods, can we at least keep the neighborhood pretty while doing it? If I have to see my community and its culture erased, can’t I have just that one thing?
The ugly doesn’t stop at poorly designed buildings; have you seen the “new and improved” Copley Square? It was never a paradise, but what was once a space filled with grass and trees has been turned into a concrete jungle, adorned with anti-homeless and anti-skate architecture.
Never in my life have I been so tempted to steal clothing. I could step into any clothing store and spend $80 on one shirt with a hideous design most likely put on there to follow some silly trend, only for it to fall apart the moment I walk out. I’m looking at you, Urban Outfitters.
No one likes advertisements, but even those have lost any sense of dignity when it comes to visual aesthetics. Why is it that whenever I walk into the UMass Boston food court I’m greeted with a group of diverse, AI-generated, smiling faces, who are ever so happy to be drinking Coca-Cola? I never liked your soda, but Coca-Cola, you just lost a customer. AI-generated art is ugly through and through.
Quality control is a thing of the past. Products don’t have to be well-made or designed with intention if every single product is made that way. Choices on what we buy are limited to a select few major corporations, and those corporations are able to cut corners because they know we won’t buy elsewhere.
I understand that beauty is often considered to be superficial. Only the conceited care about how their clothes look. Only the privileged are concerned with the aesthetics of their house. I should bow my head in shame every time I walk past a person without a home on the street for even thinking things like beauty matter.
But things are rough. The future is looking bleak. It can be hard to feel motivated to go on. That’s why I think we should try to find the beauty in the little things. Seeing a uniquely crafted house on my way to work, or complimenting someone for their beautifully designed sweater makes my life worth living.
