The new century brought a booming economy and a burgeoning middle class to the Western world. Their increasing wealth harnessed the fruits of science and technology to enhance life, work and leisure time.

» View the technology of leisure and luxury slide show

6 Comments

1. 1. knagknostik 10:46 AM 7/1/12

   Jeez, the commentary included with the slideshow is quite snarky concerning technological developments occurring during a period which makes our current period look very lame.
   
   The article's title includes the words "luxury" and "leisure", yet at various times the writers make fun of the "middle class". Anti-bourgeois is the general tone.
   
   I suppose the writers know how pathetic our time is compared to the time depicted, regarding technological progress and a general hope in a better future.

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2. 2. curmudgeon in reply to knagknostik 11:47 AM 7/1/12

   In 1912 the general mood, especially across Europe, was indeed a hopeful one but only for the aristocrats and the wealthy (although they were of course the only ones that actually counted). This was sadly out of touch with the reality that would lead to the worst, bloodiest, and most pointless war in history just 2 years later. The truth was that it was less hope and more self-satisfaction to the point of negligence.
   
   The great age of public works was all but over - only the power grids remained to be completed - and the obsession of the day was increasingly self-congratulation. The time had come to rest upon one's laurels and reap the rewards. Far from outshining our present, the early 20th Century mirrors it, as technology for the good of man morphs into gadgetry and consumerism as things to be valued in themselves.
   
   Nothing manifests that negligence more more than the absurdity of the Titanic's sinking in this very year.
   
   The bourgeoisie of this era are indeed, if not to be criticised, at least to be pitied for their complete lack of awareness. The lights, which had only so recently been brightened by electricity, were going out all over Europe, and nobody seemed to notice.

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3. 3. knagknostik in reply to curmudgeon 01:11 PM 7/1/12

   From Wikipedia -
   Long-term causes of the war included the imperialistic foreign policies of the great powers of Europe, including the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, the French Republic, and Italy.
   
   What does this have to do with buying a new-fangled bread toaster?
   

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4. 4. tomhouston 10:05 AM 7/3/12

   The caption for the Hamburg America line poster is slightly misleading. The image is the Viktoria Luise which was converted from the luxury liner Deutschland. The caption refers to the Prinzessin Viktoria Luise, the first purpose built cruise ship. The PVL was wrecked & the Deutschland converted to replace it (it could no longer compete as a luxury liner). Both were "millionaire's" ships.

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5. 5. NEVER 12:03 PM 7/4/12

   An excellent image of a time gone by when "savoir faire" was an integral -not just merely an accesorial- part of life. Here is an interesting quote: "[The New Barbarian]... el nuevo bárbaro, retrasado con respecto a su época, arcaico y primitivo en comparación con la terrible actualidad y fecha de sus problemas... es principalmente el profesional, más sabio que nunca, pero más inculto también..." Misión de la Universidad, José Ortega y Gasset.

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6. 6. NEVER in reply to NEVER 01:18 PM 7/4/12

   Sorry, (tangled language orthographic lapsus): accessorial (not accesorial).

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