Interesting take on minimalism, if not a bit at odds with my own. Rather than align it with cheapness, I see it as a challenge of efficacy in communication, ask

Interesting take on minimalism, if not a bit at odds with my own. Rather than align it with cheapness, I see it as a challenge of efficacy in communication, asking how we can convey an idea in as few words, symbols or pictures as possible and still achieve general understanding. In my experience (mostly in writing product manuals and trying to keep them from turning into novel-length publications) communicating in a minimal way requires far more work. I think of the problem of labeling nuclear waste sites as an illustration to my point. You might be right about European tourists, though. I appreciate the cathedrals and the like for what they are, but my draw to travel in Europe has more to do with the reminder and humility that comes with doing something so mundane as eating a piece of licorice in a sweets shop that's been in operation longer than my country has (US), or something to that effect. Things like that are great medicine for staying grounded and alleviating symptoms of American Exceptionalism.