Recently I received a catalog from Uncommon Goods in the mail, and several items were highlighted as being "rustic". For example, a set of large wooden dice in a brown cloth bag and a beer caddie made out of wood are both characterized as "rustic". While perusing the catalog, it was very apparent that Uncommon Goods tended to target what I call rich "city people", where many of the items served very specialized functions and command large price premiums.
This interesting sales pitch of essentially just using more natural materials in making objects seem more "rustic" is an interesting observation of the thought process of those who primarily are exposed to cities. Our living spaces have become jungles of concrete and metal, and the great outdoors are often absent from the urban environment.
With these observations I tend to associate cities with being too sterile. Everything is supposed to be clean from the environment, and nature is seen as dirty. Dirt almost seems revolting and non-domesticated animals become freaks. People have become so separated from the outdoors to the point that it seems to be a plague that contaminates on contact. (Ok that might be a big too much hyperbole, but the general idea stands).
What this has been replaced by is a more idyllic view of the "rustic" country style, where people sit on their beautiful porches all day overlooking perfect views (which of course are somehow super clean without the rest of nature getting in the way (or the real life). It would be entertaining to see "city people" spend an extended period of time away from the cities to see what it's really like to live out in the middle of nowhere.
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