Thinking Beyond The Next Pig

      Not too long ago, I wrote a post about a novel by Douglas Adams, "The Long Dark Tea-
Time Of The Soul". If you've read it, you may recall that I promised that I would eventually elaborate on a certain topic within that post. Well, the time has come at last for me to do just that. Here's a little refresher to get things started.

      The scene takes place in Valhalla. The gods have gathered and are feasting as they await Thor's arrival. Thor has called Odin for a public confrontation of some sorts, which is evidently a regular occurrence in the alternate dimension that these gods inhabit. Roasted pig is a main attraction at these events. Dirk Gently is conversing with a guest at the feast when the following line is delivered. 
  
      "It's no secret that the gods have fallen on hard times," said the old man grimly. "That's clear for all to see, even for the ones who only care about the pigs, which is most of 'em. And when you feel you're not needed any more it can be hard to think beyond the next pig, even if you used to have the whole world there with you."

      I felt like that was the best part of the whole book. It sums up the entire reason for Thor issuing a challenge to Odin and consequently explains the conflict around which the book is centered. It also brings forth a very good topic for discussion.

      One major theme component that I omitted from my previous writing on this book was the idea of relinquishing what's truly important for the pursuit of vain and material things. Odin has done just this, and that's why Thor has issued the challenge. Odin has entered a contract with man to relinquish his godly powers in order to have comfort in the mortal and material world. He would rather have a clean room and fresh linens than all the power in the world. Sounds ridiculous? It's Douglas Adams, remember? Odin truly lost sight of what's important in life. He chased material things. He chased the next pig.

      Here's where I believe this passage and this book most tie in to each other. I have written many posts on other readings and discourses that relate to the idea above. I'm going to leave out a links to them all, lest this post start to look like the Star Wars intro with hyperlinks scrolling through space, but I assure you, they're there. Some relevant topics include mass customization in architecture, the idea of an architect as a master builder, and the future of architecture as a whole.

      A fair amount of my writings from earlier this semester would suggest that the architect's sphere of influence is shrinking, much like that of the Norse Gods. Architects really did used to have the whole world there with them. That's not to say that they're not important now, but I feel like that they have filled bigger shoes in years past. Architects enjoyed elevated social status because of their occupation, and their works often defined entire time periods, movements, and groups of people. Unfortunately, this tends not to be the case today.

      This dwindling influence can be attributed to a few things. Architects really cannot help the fact that advances in technology have made it borderline impossible to be a master builder in the sense that Brunelleschi was. The expansion of automated and prefabricated design have not been kind to the demand for architects, either. It would appear that the cards have been stacked against the architect, and it is my fear that the stack is only growing taller. However, we must not despair, and for the love of everything that is holy, we must not chase the next pig.

      It can be easy to take the low road, especially when you feel like what you're doing really isn't all that important. I understand that everybody needs to work. I get it. The bills don't take care of themselves. Neither does my homework. Sometimes it can be a struggle just to get through the day, but when things seem to be falling apart around us, we have to take the extra step and challenge ourselves. I hope I'm not getting overly dramatic here, but I feel like this important for not only architecture as a profession, but also life as a whole. We all must take the time to find what we think is important and has value, because it is in doing that that we find happiness and purpose.

      Thanks for reading, and here's to hoping that your raison d'être isn't bed sheets.