Will the the new trend minimalism save the planet?
There are currently several movements promoting minimalistic lifestyle. There are movements like own only a ‘tiny house’, dress from only 33 items and possess only 100 things in your life. These movements bring awareness to the fact that objects do not cause additional happiness in your life, or at least they should not.
The new mantra: ‘the less is more’ is something unusual we have not heard of in the past decades of consumerism. The idea behind the movement is clear: own less stuff in your life, feel freer and less restricted. This trend seems to be a great plan against overconsumption. According to a Journal published in the Industrial Ecology, consumption of the people can add up to 60% of global greenhouse gas emission. Since European borders opened to products from Asia and America, these numbers rose dramatically. Fast fashion and the fast-growth of technology have also had a great influence on this issue. The impact of consumerism is clear, however is the new trend really going to save the planet?
Would it be easy for anyone to throw away cherished memories of childhood or souvenirs from your most exciting holidays? Is minimalism only for the privileged?
The new trend has brought huge attractiveness between young people especially, sharing their experiences on social media. The lifestyle photos show minimalist-style products, high-quality clothing and plenty of white or plane ‘design-stuff’. In the end this new lifestyle trend seems to enable the rise of new modes of consumption.
The idea behind minimalism at its core does really appear to be the future of putting an end to overconsumption, although this trend does not seem to yet reach its most effective outcome.
“Minimalism can return you to this basic state where you’re perceiving purely (...)
Less is more because you strip away the familiar, opening an opportunity to see the world without preconceptions”
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/magazine/the-oppressive-gospel-of-minimalism.html?_r=1
http://climatetracker.org/minimalism-trend-will-it-save-the-planet/
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/15-ideas-for-sustainable-living.php
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/minimalism-how-to-living-simply-meat-recycling/
quotes: David Raskin, a professor of contemporary art history at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
