May 16, 2003

Stability via Inertia; the Myths of Art History

Just as there was more change among past peoples than often meets the eye, so there is more stability in the modern world than might be thought. Individual choices change gradually, as when "new" first names build on old first names -- adding the "lyn" sound to the more common "Mary," for example. And some names, even in the United States, like "John," remain over generations. A given product does not easily pass away just because of changing whims or even if some other item performs