Whether Le Corbusier's vision for Paris was stupid or not, I'm not sure it means we need to go back to some hyper-idealized vision of the past (which I'm not su

Whether Le Corbusier's vision for Paris was stupid or not, I'm not sure it means we need to go back to some hyper-idealized vision of the past (which I'm not sure ever existed). In glorifying western ideals of history with flowery language, I think you've forgotten to examine what daily life was like living under the power structures that financed those "magnificent decorative artworks." You romanticize the idea of a peasant walking past ornamental buildings in an old town square, while forgetting that, those buildings were created as a statement of power and influence by the aristocracy who controlled daily life. The peasants did not go home to one of those "beautifully" decorative buildings. They went home to a shack with no running water and died of some hilariously curable illness at the age of 35. One of their children probably died before the age of 10. But oh, they had the wonderful mysticism of religion and ornamental wallpapers to gaze upon! Sure, I guess you could call the 7 layers of crown molding and statues carved into statues "enchanting." As an endeavor of sheer human man hours and craftsmanship, its definitely interesting. But I wouldn't call the rationalist forces that led to overthrowing those practices bad. I don't know about you, but I'm not sure I would enjoy having 3 generations of my family enslaved as "artisans" for the sole purpose of carving patterns in a ceiling so one rich guy can impress his buddies.