I mean, if I'm talking about architecture, I like Robert

Host: The room feels quiet, the evening light softening as it fades into dusk. The air is calm, the world outside slowly slipping into night. Jeeny sits at the table, her fingers tracing the edge of a notebook, her mind clearly lost in thought. Jack stands by the window, arms crossed, watching the street below, his expression thoughtful. The space between them is filled with a quiet anticipation, as if a conversation is about to unfold.

Jeeny: (her voice thoughtful, almost curious) “You ever think about how the things we’re drawn to—the artists, the styles, the creators—say so much about who we are or how we see the world?”

Jack: (glancing over at her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “Say so much? I don’t know, it seems like we just like what we like. But I get what you mean—our preferences do reflect a lot about us.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, a small smile forming as she shares her thought) “I was reading something Rick Owens said, and it really made me think about this. He said, ‘I mean, if I’m talking about architecture, I like Robert Mallet-Stevens.’ It’s interesting because it speaks to how we gravitate toward certain things—not just because they’re popular or trendy, but because they reflect something deeper about what we value.”

Jack: (pauses, his brow furrowing slightly as he processes her words) “So, he’s saying that his appreciation for Mallet-Stevens isn’t just about liking the style, but about connecting with the deeper meaning or philosophy behind the architecture? That the architecture speaks to something more than just design?”

Jeeny: (smiling gently, her voice gaining more momentum as the idea unfolds) “Exactly. For Rick Owens, architecture isn’t just about buildings—it’s about the vision behind them, the emotion and the philosophy that informs the design. Mallet-Stevens’ work, particularly in the modernist movement, isn’t just aesthetically pleasing. It’s about challenging the status quo, pushing boundaries, and expressing a vision of space that reflects a deeper, more transformative idea of the world.”

Host: Jeeny’s words seem to settle in the air, a quiet realization about how the things we appreciate aren’t just about surface-level appeal. Jack stands still, his gaze softening as he takes in the deeper meaning of why certain art, architecture, or design resonates with us. The world outside continues, but inside, the conversation seems to be shifting into something more reflective, more introspective.

Jack: (his voice softer now, almost thoughtful) “I see it now. It’s not just about the aesthetic, the ‘look.’ It’s about what it represents, what it stands for. When Owens talks about Mallet-Stevens, he’s not just talking about the architecture itself—he’s talking about the vision behind it, the ideas that shape it.”

Jeeny: (nodding with quiet satisfaction, her smile warm) “Exactly. Architecture, art, design—they’re more than just things to look at. They’re expressions of how we see the world, how we want to shape it. And when we connect with that, it’s not just about liking the way something looks. It’s about aligning with the ideas and principles that underpin it.”

Jack: (pauses, his expression shifting, as if he’s coming to a deeper understanding) “I guess that’s true for a lot of things, not just architecture. We’re drawn to things because they reflect our values, our understanding of the world, or even how we want to see the world. It’s not just about the surface. It’s about the deeper connection.”

Jeeny: (smiling softly, her voice calm and sure) “Exactly. And when you connect with something on that level—whether it’s art, architecture, or even people—it becomes about something much greater than just aesthetics. It’s about what it means, what it represents.”

Host: The room feels quieter now, as though the conversation has unlocked a new understanding. Jack seems to stand a little taller, as if the realization has shifted something inside him. Jeeny watches him, content in the knowledge that sometimes, the things we appreciate most in life are not just about their surface appeal, but about the deeper connections they create. The world outside continues, but inside, there’s an understanding that what we value speaks volumes about who we are.