Interesting discussion. Last week at the last meeting of our little art history group before the break, one of the discussions was whether everyone should do a foundation year at art college, like a kind of creative version of National Service.
I guess with minimalism I thought it was about intentionality not so much that you lived with deprivation and only two books. I tend to think about it like the no-buy challenges we had in Saturday Savers Club: you make up your own rules about what you're going to buy (necessary/permitted buying, including gifts and tickets for the theatre) and not buy (ever more yarn for your expanding yarn stash), because each person's life, preferences and circumstances are different. I noticed you can now buy very expensive white paint and other esoteric accoutrements (real bristle brushes for scrubbing your vegetables and besoms with hand-picked and bound twigs) to live the one true minimalist way - consumerism by any other name?
I love all the lighted decorations at Christmas, they're always a joy!
Minimalism, as all things, has been turned into a trend, naturally. An aesthetic (and a very expensive one, at that). I see it as being more about intentionality, as well, and awareness.
I like the idea of "mandatory" art and aesthetic education. Strange that we think murder and destruction are non-negotiables, but art and the preservation of beauty remains elective.
I really like the lights, too :)