Horror Vacui

Horror Vacui is an Italian term used in describing a particular style of art. Used primarily in the Medieval era, this style could be simplistically described as "fear of open space." Art of this delineation  is detailed, exquisite, busy, and oftentimes gaudy.

Now to relate this fun fact to real life. Yesterday I went home, feeling a lot of things weighing on my mind, and decided that the last thing I wanted to do was make a meal for myself. Knowing full well that I hadn't eaten anything since the previous day's lunch, I decided that I would compromise: I was eating out. After contemplating for at least 30 minutes as to where I would go (I am possibly the least decisive person when it comes to food. I just eat because I am required to live... I would love it if I didn't have to decide what to comsume every day...), I decided to get off my butt and figure out what to eat on the way to the food plaza down the road. I chose Panda Express (ugh... why? I don't know... Maybe because I was FAMISHED, and it was the first one that came into my vision... I regretted the choice later. Trust me).

Upon walking inside, I saw the long waiting line, thought seriously about leaving, then proceeded to take my place in the Chinese frenzy as customer #1,000,000. Before too long, a cute little couple and their grandson came in behind me. Me being there alone only made it that much easier to listen in on their conversation. The sweet little granny kept talking about how they were in a hurry and needed to "not waste any time," so that they got to some event before it started. I had to chuckle as I heard her dear husband say something to the effect of, "We have over an hour- don't worry about it." Isn't that just the way? It reminded me of how my grandma sounds when she is thinking of getting somewhere on time. It also reminded me of how I am bound to be when I am old and gray like that.

As we inched forward in the dinner line, I began to notice a strange, and somewhat annoying pattern. When I moved forward even a tiny bit, the grandmother would do the same, often times allowing her large purse to touch me due to how close she was. When we got our trays as is tradition at Panda Express, I leaned my hand on the marble counter top, and her tray always scooted until it was touching my hand. I experimented a few times, not moving my body, just my hand. Sure enough, the tray moved and closed off the space. As I looked around the room, I recognized that everyone was doing that- the trays were very very close to the following person. The people squished themselves in as if they would get served quicker if there was no open space.

I find that interesting, because this doesn't only happen in fast food restaurants; it happens everywhere you look in every situation. Think about cars- even when you are at a stop light, having too much open space makes people honk and despair. Yet there you are! You're stopped! Moving forward in that moment will not make you progress at all- you're sitting there motionless, but still people insist on enjoying that closeness.

Now let's turn to human nature as we always do in my philosophical little blog. People are afraid of open space. They need proximity, whether that be physically being near someone or emotionally. Sure- we all have our bubbles, but in reality, I can honestly state with confidence that there is not one person in this world that truly wants to be alone. No one wants to have an empty space in their heart that they are supposed to fill by themselves. In fact, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't hear someone talk about this "empty hole" that needs to be filled somehow. True, I live in a college environment in Provo, Utah, where LDS kids are getting ready to find a companion, but beyond that, it stands the same. Every movie I've ever seen involves some sort of human relationship, even with people who are "rogues" or "renegades." There's always a relationship between human beings. Why is this? Because people relate to that yearning. People need people to survive. They need other humans to relate to, to vent to, to laugh with, and to simply hang around with. Interesting.

What scares us the most? Open space: having an unknown, empty spot in our hearts. It has to be filled somehow or we freak out. That's a good thing- we really do need other people for that. It's interesting that the "hole" we so often speak of is always filled by another human being. We can never fill it ourselves, and we can never hope to enjoy true contentment without that hole being gone.


So I guess what I'm trying to say is that Horror Vacui is more than just an Italian art term. Sounds like it's a reflection of the human mind- We are afraid of Open Space.