“There’s a dichotomy
of simplicity and complexity that is embodied in the Renaissance.” –Stephanie
Roberts
As
Stephanie, Jacob, Devan, Kevin, Sean and I sat talking, discussing the various
aspects of the Renaissance, I was struck by the dual personality that this era
seems to have. On one hand there seems to be this emphasis on making things
simple, clearer. The Protestant Reformation sought to make religion more
accessible to the common man. Sola scriptura, Sola fide—only scripture and only
faith were necessary for salvation. Gone were the Catholic sacraments.
But on the
other hand, some things seemed to get increasingly more complex. The list of
expected qualities in a courtier began expanding. Not only was one expected to
be sociable, wellborn, and smart, but they also needed to be a master of
fencing, horseback riding, bull fighting, hunting, etc. And to top it all off,
they had to make it look effortless.
That need
to make it seem effortless is perhaps the truest symptom of this split. When
both simplicity and complexity are valued, the complex must be made to appear
simple.
