Previous Post # 4
Original Title: Modern Day Renaissance People
Original Publication Date: October 1, 2014
If I had a time machine one of top times/places I'd love to visit would be Renaissance-era Italy. One of my favorite artists of all time is Leonardo da Vinci. His art is amazing; I've been fortunate enough to see some of his work at the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa (I swung by Paris for a few days in-between finishing up volunteer work in Israel and heading back to the States, which was amazing). I've long admired da Vinci, not only for his art but also for his whole approach to life. Along with his artistry he also designed machines for flight and underwater travel centuries before they were actually created, played the lyre, and filled countless notebooks.
For whatever reason I have always been attracted to the idea of a Renaissance man or woman. I've always been fascinated by a variety of subjects and I suppose I admire people who not only are interested in a lot of things but are also at least somewhat competent in them. While some people may say that in the modern world specialization is more sought after than a universal outlook, I personally think that there are some people who strive to live a Renaissance lifestyle. Here are a few notable examples.
Story Musgrave -
I actually met this man once. On my fourteenth birthday my Dad and I went to the Kennedy Space Center together. Story Musgrave was there and we got a photo together with him. One of the people there actually said that, "Whenever he's bored, he goes and earns another PhD." Even by astronaut standards, Story Musgrave is an overachiever.
Former astronaut Story Musgrave has gone into space on six separate Shuttle missions. Before that he served in the Marines, where he piloted planes, performed approximately 800 free falls, and was an aviation electrician. Later on he became a surgeon, helped design the equipment used on the Space Shuttles, has earned several advanced degrees, ranging from an MBA in operations analysis to an MA in literature, and consulted on the construction of the Mission:Space attraction at Epcot. Currently he works as a landscape architect/ real estate agent in Kissimmee, Florida, where he has transformed many lots, and practices several diverse hobbies ranging from chess to scuba diving.
Brian May -
He's best known as the lead guitarist for the band Queen. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named him the 26th greatest guitarist of all time. During his time with Queen Brian May also composed a lot of the songs for the band, including "Tie Your Mother Down," "We Will Rock You," and "Fat Bottomed Girls."
For most people, this claim to fame would be more than enough. Before Queen became internationally famous Brian May was working towards a PhD in astrophysics. Eventually he returned to his studies and finally earned his PhD from Imperial College in 2007; his thesis was titled A Survey of Radical Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud. Brian May is also an animal rights activist.
Tavi Gevinson -
At the tender age of thirteen Tavi became a fashion icon and blogger. She gained attention with millions online and was invited to Fashion Week in New York and Paris. Eventually, while still in high school, she became an entrepreneur with Rookie Mag, and in addition to fashion has expanded her writing with topics such as pop culture and feminism.
Now 18, Tavi has branched out into acting, having a role in the film "Enough Said," and is currently on Broadway with Michael Cera in "This is Our Youth."
James Franco -
James originally left college to pursue a career in acting; usually this is not advice a guidance counselor would give you but it seemed to have payed off for him. He's played many great roles in films and television shows such as "Freaks and Geeks," Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man Trilogy," "127 Hours," "Pineapple Express," "General Hospital," and the upcoming comedy "The Interview."
Eventually, feeling somewhat unfulfilled from becoming a world-famous actor, Franco went back to college. He has earned his Bachelor's from UCLA, his MFA from Columbia, and is now a PhD student. Along with acting, studying, and also teaching, Franco has published work such as his short story collection "Palo Alto," and painted artwork featured in galleries (both to mixed reviews).
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
- Robert A. Heinlein, from his novel "Time Enough for Love"
Original Publication Date: October 1, 2014
If I had a time machine one of top times/places I'd love to visit would be Renaissance-era Italy. One of my favorite artists of all time is Leonardo da Vinci. His art is amazing; I've been fortunate enough to see some of his work at the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa (I swung by Paris for a few days in-between finishing up volunteer work in Israel and heading back to the States, which was amazing). I've long admired da Vinci, not only for his art but also for his whole approach to life. Along with his artistry he also designed machines for flight and underwater travel centuries before they were actually created, played the lyre, and filled countless notebooks.
For whatever reason I have always been attracted to the idea of a Renaissance man or woman. I've always been fascinated by a variety of subjects and I suppose I admire people who not only are interested in a lot of things but are also at least somewhat competent in them. While some people may say that in the modern world specialization is more sought after than a universal outlook, I personally think that there are some people who strive to live a Renaissance lifestyle. Here are a few notable examples.
Story Musgrave -
I actually met this man once. On my fourteenth birthday my Dad and I went to the Kennedy Space Center together. Story Musgrave was there and we got a photo together with him. One of the people there actually said that, "Whenever he's bored, he goes and earns another PhD." Even by astronaut standards, Story Musgrave is an overachiever.
Former astronaut Story Musgrave has gone into space on six separate Shuttle missions. Before that he served in the Marines, where he piloted planes, performed approximately 800 free falls, and was an aviation electrician. Later on he became a surgeon, helped design the equipment used on the Space Shuttles, has earned several advanced degrees, ranging from an MBA in operations analysis to an MA in literature, and consulted on the construction of the Mission:Space attraction at Epcot. Currently he works as a landscape architect/ real estate agent in Kissimmee, Florida, where he has transformed many lots, and practices several diverse hobbies ranging from chess to scuba diving.
Brian May -
He's best known as the lead guitarist for the band Queen. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named him the 26th greatest guitarist of all time. During his time with Queen Brian May also composed a lot of the songs for the band, including "Tie Your Mother Down," "We Will Rock You," and "Fat Bottomed Girls."
For most people, this claim to fame would be more than enough. Before Queen became internationally famous Brian May was working towards a PhD in astrophysics. Eventually he returned to his studies and finally earned his PhD from Imperial College in 2007; his thesis was titled A Survey of Radical Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud. Brian May is also an animal rights activist.
Tavi Gevinson -
At the tender age of thirteen Tavi became a fashion icon and blogger. She gained attention with millions online and was invited to Fashion Week in New York and Paris. Eventually, while still in high school, she became an entrepreneur with Rookie Mag, and in addition to fashion has expanded her writing with topics such as pop culture and feminism.
Now 18, Tavi has branched out into acting, having a role in the film "Enough Said," and is currently on Broadway with Michael Cera in "This is Our Youth."
James Franco -
James originally left college to pursue a career in acting; usually this is not advice a guidance counselor would give you but it seemed to have payed off for him. He's played many great roles in films and television shows such as "Freaks and Geeks," Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man Trilogy," "127 Hours," "Pineapple Express," "General Hospital," and the upcoming comedy "The Interview."
Eventually, feeling somewhat unfulfilled from becoming a world-famous actor, Franco went back to college. He has earned his Bachelor's from UCLA, his MFA from Columbia, and is now a PhD student. Along with acting, studying, and also teaching, Franco has published work such as his short story collection "Palo Alto," and painted artwork featured in galleries (both to mixed reviews).
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
- Robert A. Heinlein, from his novel "Time Enough for Love"
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