"Little" and "Big": What This Site is About

Big - Little

Macro - Micro

Grand - Everyday

Significant - Trivial

So many times, we tend to think about our world in such terms. We talk about "big" issues, the "important" things in life, the "extraordinary" examples, the "influential" "movers and shakers" in our society.

While those things are, indeed, important, I believe that we must not forget about the "little" things: the ordinary things that make up so much of our everyday realities.

More importantly, I value the little things because they are reflections of the big things. Oftentimes, in objects or topics that we find insignificant, ordinary, or trivial, there are signs and traces of broader, more universal and significant issues. 

That, ultimately, is what this site is about. I endeavour to look for the broader themes and issues addressed in the seemingly trivial things:
  • What individuals' anecdotal stories can tell us about the world they live in
  • What social history (e.g. how people lived, ate, dressed, etc.) can tell us about the large-scale events they lived through
  • What popular culture, literature, and art can tell us as comments on our society
Sometimes, the big things in life can be manifested in the littlest of ways.

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