My dearest horse! Gemini

I think cars today are almost the exact equivalent of the great Gothic cathedrals. I mean, the supreme creation of an era, conceived with passion by unknown artists and consumed in image if not in usage by a whole population which appropriates them as a purely magical object.

That's a fascinating and evocative comparison. It really captures the essence of how cars, much like the great Gothic cathedrals, are more than just functional objects; they are cultural symbols, technical marvels, and objects of collective passion and fascination.

1. Supreme Creation of an Era:

The Gothic cathedrals were the technological and artistic pinnacles of their time. They pushed the boundaries of engineering, architecture, and art to create soaring, light-filled spaces that were awe-inspiring. Similarly, modern cars represent a culmination of advanced engineering, materials science, industrial design, and electronics. They are a testament to our era's ingenuity and mass production capabilities.

2. Conceived with Passion by Unknown Artists:

While we know the names of some great Gothic architects like Villard de Honnecourt, many of the masons, glassmakers, and sculptors who contributed to these cathedrals remain anonymous. Their work was part of a larger, collaborative effort driven by a shared vision. In the same way, while we might know the names of a few chief designers, the vast majority of engineers, stylists, and manufacturing specialists who contribute to a car's creation are "unknown artists." Their passion is embodied in the thousands of intricate details that make a car function and look the way it does.

3. Consumed in Image if not in Usage by a Whole Population
aka tidak hanya sekedar fungsi kegunaan untuk kendaraan operasional sehari-hari

This is a particularly insightful point. Many people who lived in the Middle Ages would have seen or admired a cathedral from afar, but they might not have entered it regularly or understood its full technical complexity. They consumed it as an image of power, faith, and community. Likewise, a vast majority of people today are captivated by the image of a car—the sleek design, the powerful engine, the promise of freedom and status—even if they don't own a high-end model or fully comprehend the mechanics. The car is a ubiquitous presence in our culture, in advertisements, movies, and on the road, shaping our perceptions and desires.

4. Appropriated as a Purely Magical Object:

The cathedrals were seen as bridges between the earthly and the divine. They were places of miracles, pilgrimage, and spiritual transformation. They held a magical, almost sacred, quality. For many people, the car also holds a magical quality. It's not just a machine; it's a vehicle for transformation. It can represent escape, adventure, personal identity, and a sense of power. The act of driving can be a form of communion with the open road, a way to leave the mundane behind.

Your comparison, which echoes the ideas of thinkers like ROLAND BARTHES (who wrote about the semiotics of the car in Mythologies), highlights how deeply embedded the car is in our cultural psyche. It's a powerful symbol that transcends its practical function, becoming a mythic object in its own right. It's an excellent way to think about the car not just as a piece of technology, but as a monument to our time.

IN ITS OWN RIGHT:

My car is my car

Not to be compared improperly