In opposition to the masses (2023) Sculpture by Hayk Hovhannisyan

Humanity has long contemplated the idea of the crowd, with varying viewpoints on the matter. Hovhannes Tumanyan, the prominent dreamer of the Caucasus, offered his perspective: "The earth is in danger when the people become a crowd... The people and the crowd are opposites. The people are wise, generous, and kind, while the crowd is fickle, irritable, and inclined towards malevolence." To some, these reflections may sound somewhat manipulative, as I firmly believe that people and the collective are not opposing but rather interrelated categories, with one encompassing the other. Beyond the romantic viewpoint, this is a utopian ideal, a beautiful dream, a form of justification. For me, these concepts converge
into the broader category of society, the only rational unit of
human coexistence. Society, in its essence, is remarkably
patient and adaptable, forgiving of nearly everything
except true genius. There are discernible paths for altering
the course of society, with two primary methods:
evolution and revolution. I am adamantly against the latter,
as revolutions are typically envisioned by romantics, carried
out by fanatics, and their consequences are often reaped
by opportunists. On the other hand, there exist numerous evolutionary routes, but I find the transformation of the
individual's character and morality to be the most
acceptable. Just as a person, when merging new
qualities, perceptions, depths, and achievements, begins
to diverge from the societal norms and chart a fresh
course, this individual becomes a catalyst for progress,
shaping the future through their actions. In essence,
it is the deeply introspective, morally-centered
individual who paves the way for the future,
and opposition to the conventional is merely
a natural byproduct. Any reform that isn't c
entered on moral transformation is, in my
view, futile, echoing the sentiments
of Thomas Carlyle.

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