Becoming a Renaissance Man or Woman

I wrote one of my Masters thesis on Michelangelo and his relationship to the various Popes he eventually outlived. During that period of writing in my twenties, I gained a fair amount of insight into the artist and the many other contemporaries that made up the geniuses of the Renaissance. That era, by the way, is generally considered as the time from the early fifteenth century to the late seventeenth century, an era encompassing about 200 years. Sure, there were other painters and sculptors like Botticelli, Bernini, Raphael, and Ghiberti, but those were mostly people entrenched in the arts. Im discussing the true multitalented thinkers such as Da Vinci and the aforementioned Michelangelo. In addition to their obvious expertise, they invented, created buildings, weapons, and developed many innovative techniques in the arts and science. This isnt to slight the scientists such as Galileo, Copernicus, Descartes, Bacon, Kepler, and finally, Newton, who technically arrived a few decades later. But they were somewhat one-dimensional, compared to the two aforementioned.

It wasnt until the birth of Benjamin Franklin, that a true Renaissance-like person emerged again. One whom could invent, write, and astound the scientific community with new ideas regarding electricity and heat conduction. Later, in the early twentieth century, Thomas Edison would assume the role of current genius, although he wasnt grounded in any of the arts. Therefore, the Renaissance moniker wouldnt justly fit his demeanor or countenance either. So where does one look for a modern-day, Renaissance person and why is it important?

These are two different questions. First, consider what it takes to be considered on the same page as Michelangelo or Da Vinci. They were so far ahead of all others in their field, they cannot be reasonably compared to anyone. So, with their exception, what can we hope to define as Renaissance-like? Obviously, versatility is the first hallmark of such a person.

They should be capable of performing in many of the arts and humanities. At the very least, they should be able to paint, draw, or sculpt to qualify as an artist. It would be important for them to write or author books or articles to express their ideas. They could also be accomplished as musicians, being competent in composing, playing music, or both. Of course, in the finer tradition of science, they should be a great thinker in mathematics, physics, or other discipline. At the very least, they should be an inventor or innovator, and perhaps also an entrepreneur. They must be worldly, therefore being well-traveled and well-read. It wouldnt hurt if they were an accomplished in the ancillary arts such as cooking or interior designing, decorating, or architecture. The more areas they are proficient in, the closer to the true ideal they become. Having several degrees from recognized universities wouldnt hurt either.

In general, they should be interested in a variety of areas ranging from the personal and domestic to the abstract and controversial. By reading a diversity of the classics and contemporary writings, they would have formed a foundation for going into many different directions. So, who might qualify in todays world, you might ask? Did you think of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or even Stephen Hawking? Well, they are brilliant, but not very well-rounded. Actually, the late Walt Disney was closer to the mold. You can see its fairly difficult to join this exclusive club, although the member doesnt have to be famous.

I, for example, qualify in almost all categories. Im an artist, painter, and sculptor, Ive authored five novels of seven books and over 150 online articles. Ive designed several websites and have two degrees, one in marketing. Ive had my own business and started many more. I have an interest in science and have created several inventions. Im a musician and play three instruments. I cook, do interior design, and have traveled the world. Im an avid reader of every type of article and book. So where do I fit in?

It depends. To answer my second question regarding why its important, its because Renaissance people often make a difference. Also, it would be interesting to get a group of them together and have them share ideas. To that end, nominate someone who you feel meets these qualifications and email them to me in response to this article. If they agree, Ill post them on my website www.polideoptic.com that will tell the web-world about their achievements and see if they can receive the acknowledgement they deserve. Or nominate yourself, dont be bashful. I obviously wasnt.

Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master's Degree in teaching. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. He has authored 6 books and a novel, "Pursuit of the Phoenix." His latest book is, "Inside the Yellow Pages" which can be seen at his website, http://www.poweradbook.com. Currently, he is the Marketing Director for thenurseschoice.com, a Health Information and Doctor Referral site.

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