Tuesday, July 22, 2014

How To Live The Utopian Life

By Sharron Cantu


Most people desire to live a good life, an honest life, a perfect life. To live perfectly or ideally is to live the utopian life. It is one filled with a passion driven purpose unique to each individual within the community. Once each individual discovers a talent, a way of giving and the uniqueness that is oneself, the individual is on the path to a new and perfect life.

The word, first coined by Sir Thomas More for his book describes a fictional island in the midst of the Atlantic. The term has been used more recently to describe communal and intentional communities. Both of which incorporate the talents of different individuals to create a fully active and often self-sustainable community. Between bartering with other household members and for outside goods, the community can live on a cash free basis most of the time.

Communes of the mid-60s and early 70s are a good example of utopian lifestyles. Individuals shared housing, chores, gardening and other activities. Unlike those communes of the early days, sex, drugs and rock and roll are often missing from the menu in the intentional living communities and communes still operating today.

The word, of Greek origin literally means "no place." Interesting meaning when one considers the realty of the meaning of the word and the adage that "no place is perfect." The earliest mention of a Utopian paradise would be that of Plato's Republic. Whether with Plato's Republic, or others' since, one thing in common with most is that the economics are often based on a socioeconomic status.

When looking to create commune or intentional community, it is good to have as minimal a carbon footprint in the process as possible. Once the individuals are on-site, it is important to discuss the responsibilities and shared talents of the household. It is also important to pick a location that is ecologically sound and in good environmental health. Otherwise, the village may only be completed to have to be torn down and rebuilt elsewhere.

As a result, due to the commercialism and capitalism that took over the late 19th and early 20th century, many communes and intentional communities arose in various parts of the world. Social disruption created by the establishment of these new markets has always been thought to have been the cause of this particular recessive period in history. It is during this time that the socioeconomic status among those living in different communes, intentional communities and other shared housing became quite clear.

Not often realized, dormitory living in colleges and universities has often been thought of as utopian. While this may be the case, it is doubtful that any dorm is the perfect living situation; While fraternities and sororities have some of the same living conditions, in no way are either of these utopian in nature. Rather, both are often boisterous, loud and obnoxious, everything that goes against the definition of peace.

Andromeda (1957, ) is a film that shows the human race communicating with a Great Circle to create the perfect technological society. The basic idea being that peaceful, loving, kind individuals can build the perfect life. With the economy and other factors, it is no doubt that this lifestyle may be more popular in the future than the past.




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