Featured Post from Baylor University

Notre Dame Fire Marks ‘Dark Day,’ But Beauty Will Emerge, Baylor Architectural Historian Says

Apr 16, 2019

2 min

Elise King, MID, M.A.

In the wake of a massive fire that devasted Paris’ iconic Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday and captured eyes and prompted tears across the globe, a Baylor University expert in architectural history said beauty can emerge from the ashes.


Elise King, M.I.D., M.A.,, assistant professor of interior design in Baylor’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, is an architectural and design historian.


“Something I find comforting is that when you study architecture and design throughout history, there are numerous examples demonstrating that destruction, chaos and loss can beget inspired beauty. No matter the damage, this will not be the end of Notre Dame’s story,” King said.


“Architecture isn’t static; it’s designed to adapt and change. The more significant the structure, the more likely its legacy will continue in some built form,” she said. “Whether it’s reconstruction, preservation and restoration, new construction or, more likely, some combination of strategies, Île de la Cité will not be without its cathedral.”


French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that he hopes the 850-year-old building could be rebuilt within five years.


“We will rebuild the cathedral and make it even more beautiful,” Macron said, according to a story in The Wall Street Journal.


King said that the Notre Dame the world has come to know from pictures or personal visits is not the Notre Dame of the 12th Century.


“The beloved gargoyles, for example, were added in the 19th century during Viollet-le-Duc's controversial ‘restoration' of the cathedral,” she said. “There is no doubt that today will be remembered as a dark day in Notre Dame’s history. But already there is light, as groups of Parisians came together tonight to sing ‘Ave Maria’ on the sidewalk in front of the smoldering edifice. And if the damage is severe, I hope the destruction will inspire new and innovative design solutions.”


ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.


Connect with:
Elise King, MID, M.A.

Elise King, MID, M.A.

Associate Professor of Interior Design, Interim Chair

Interior designer, historian & researcher who explores community relationships with built environments, architectural history & sleep

Frank Lloyd WrightInterior Design and Architectural HistoryDigital Humanities

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Baylor University

3 min

Stress-Free Holiday Gatherings Made Simple

Holiday gatherings often bring a mix of joy and challenges, especially when navigating complex family dynamics. Anticipating potential hurdles, such as sensitive topics or interpersonal tensions, can help family members approach these events with confidence and clarity. Baylor University communication expert Allison M. Alford, Ph.D., researches adult daughtering, invisible labor and family relationships and emphasizes the importance of preparation to ensure a more relaxed and enjoyable experience for everyone over the holidays. She shares five practical tips to help families navigate the holidays with ease: Dr. Allison Alford’s Five Family Tips for a Stress-free Holiday 1.Work out known hurdles before you arrive to the holiday event. Family dynamics often have predictable friction points – whether it’s a difference in political views, sibling rivalries or unresolved conflicts. Identify these hurdles in advance and decide how to approach them. “For instance, if you anticipate a certain topic will come up, plan a calm response or rehearse setting a boundary,” Alford said. “If you’re traveling with a partner or children, discuss how you’ll handle challenging moments as a team. The goal is to minimize surprises and feel equipped to manage potential stressors.” 2.Come prepared with a list of topics you’re ready and willing to talk about (and off-limits subjects, too!). Having a mental (or physical!) list of neutral or positive conversation topics can keep the mood light and engaging, Alford said. “Think about shared hobbies, family memories or recent accomplishments,” she said. “At the same time, identify subjects that are off-limits for you – like contentious debates or sensitive personal matters – and practice polite ways to redirect or deflect those conversations. For example, you could say, ‘I’d rather not get into that today. Tell me about your new garden!’ Preparation is key to feeling in control of the dialogue.” 3.Set a mantra for your intention. Repeat often. Alford suggests anchoring yourself with a phrase or saying that aligns with your values and goals for the event. For example, “I will stay calm and kind,” or “I am here to connect, not to control.” Repeat this mantra to yourself whenever you feel stress creeping in. “It acts as a mental reset and helps you respond intentionally rather than react impulsively. Over time, this practice can shift your mindset and create a buffer against family tension,” Alford said. View her profile 4.Take breaks when you feel things going off the rails. Recognizing when you’re overwhelmed is a vital skill. If emotions are running high, excuse yourself for a breather. A short walk, stepping outside for fresh air, or even taking an extended “bathroom break” can provide the time you need to decompress and regroup. “Use this break to practice deep breathing, text a supportive friend or simply enjoy a few moments of solitude. Returning with a clearer head can prevent escalation and help you maintain your composure,” Alford said. 5.Stand up for your needs. Don’t abandon yourself! While family gatherings often involve compromise, Alford said it’s important not to sacrifice your emotional well-being. If a situation feels uncomfortable or hurtful, express your needs calmly but firmly, she said. For example, “I feel uncomfortable when this is discussed. Let’s talk about something else.” “Prioritize your mental health and remember that it’s okay to say no, step away or leave early if necessary. Standing up for yourself sends a clear message that your feelings matter and reinforces healthy boundaries,” Alford said. By addressing known hurdles in advance, curating conversation topics, setting personal intentions and taking mindful breaks when needed, Alford said family members can create a buffer against tension and foster meaningful connections. “At the same time, standing up for your needs and setting boundaries helps preserve your emotional well-being,” she said. “With these strategies, you’ll be better equipped to approach holiday events with confidence and calm.”

3 min

Trim the Clutter, Keep the Cheer

The holiday season brings warmth, joy and a touch of magic into our homes, but it also can bring excess clutter, waste and energy consumption, making it hard to feel festive. However, there are simple and creative ways to decorate sustainably without sacrificing the festive spirit. Baylor University human sciences and design professor Elise King, M.I.D., M.A., an expert in interior design and built environments, says embracing sustainable decorations, changing to energy-efficient lights, eliminating clutter and reducing waste can help maintain a tidy, eco-friendly home – and create a holiday atmosphere that resonates with joy and meaning. “The holidays can often feel busy and stressful, so it’s helpful to focus on traditions and decorations that bring joy and add meaning to the season,” King said. By taking simple steps to reuse materials, reduce energy consumption and focus on what matters most, families can celebrate the season with both heart and mindfulness, King said. Decorating sustainably One of the easiest ways to approach sustainable decorating is by reusing or repurposing materials you already have or finding decorations at resale shops. "Upcycling items from thrift stores or turning last year’s Christmas cards into garlands are simple and creative ideas," King said. “Beyond thriftiness, these practices add a personal and nostalgic touch to decorations.” King also said that it is important to consider the lifecycle of a product, beyond just being recyclable. "Also consider elements such as durability/longevity, manufacturing processes, transportation, energy consumption and disposal,” she said. “I recommend people make the best-informed decisions they can, while also remembering not to let it become overwhelming. Switch to LED Christmas lights Changing from incandescent to LED Christmas lights is good for both style and sustainability. LED lights reduce energy usage, are more durable and typically last longer than incandescent. Plus, they have come a long way over the past few years. “The criticism used to be that LEDs had a blue hue and were ‘cold’ compared to incandescent,” King said. “That isn’t really the case anymore. You have to be particular about what you purchase, but several companies offer lights that are virtually indistinguishable from vintage lights.” A clutter-free peaceful mindset While holiday decorations create a festive touch around the house, they can add to the clutter and busyness, which ultimately takes away the joy, King said. Decluttering and organization can help create a peaceful environment. “Most people enjoy Christmas decorations, but over the years we tend to accumulate a lot of them,” King said. “Sadly, for many, the thought of decorating for Christmas no longer brings feelings of excitement and joy. Instead, we dread going into the attic, dragging out the tree and boxes of ornaments, checking strands of lights, fixing broken bulbs, etc., only to know that we’ll have to put it all back in about a month. "Keep decorations that bring joy and let go of what no longer feels fulfilling can make a big difference in decreasing the excess while emphasizing what is important to you and your family," she said. By clearing both physical and mental space, families can better prioritize the activities and moments that truly matter. Reducing paper use It can be difficult to go fully paperless because of gift wrapping, but there are ways to reduce paper in the holidays from reusing materials or gifting experiences. “You can reuse paper shopping bags or even cut up the bags or other paper you have around the house and wrap gifts,” King said. Gifting experiences rather than physical items is another growing trend. “I find that many people are interested in receiving or gifting experiences, which can also reduce wrapping needs,” King said. “Not only does this minimize waste, but it also emphasizes shared moments over material possessions.” King noted that since COVID, there has been a trend to go paperless and people tend to be more comfortable with virtual communication and remote collaboration in general, which can also eliminate the need for Christmas cards and other paper products.

4 min

Navigating Grief During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness and celebration, but for many – especially those who are grieving the death of a loved one or a deep loss – it can bring a complex mix of emotions, ranging from sadness and sorrow to gratitude and joy. Baylor University professors Candi Cann, Ph.D., a death scholar and associate professor of religion in the Honors College, and Jo-Ann Tsang, Ph.D., a leading gratitude researcher and associate professor of psychology, offer four strategies for people experiencing difficult emotions and grief during the holidays. Embrace the spectrum of emotions Both Tsang and Cann say the key to maintaining balance and authenticity – even while deep in grief – is understanding and accepting where you are emotionally. “It’s possible and normal to feel different emotions at one time,” Tsang said. “You can feel happiness during the holidays, but also sad that you miss someone who you wish were present. Being grateful does not rule out feeling other emotions; we can cultivate gratitude, but that does not necessitate running away from other emotions.” Cann pointed out that grief can be complicated if the death or loss is from a difficult relationship. “It is okay to feel relief in addition to grief and it is important to validate all of your feelings – it’s a complicated grief because it was a complicated relationship,” Cann said. The importance of self-care Self-care is vital during this time, Cann said. She encourages grieving people to stay active, eat healthy, go outside to be in nature and get enough sleep. “It’s totally normal to need more sleep when you're depressed and grieving. You just have to be gracious with yourself about that,” Cann said. Allowing ourselves to feel emotions like stress, sadness or grief gives us insight into what we value and “can motivate us to take some time for self-care,” Tsang said. Acknowledging that we are stressed might lead us to reach out to others for help with tasks that overwhelm us or to let go of things to reduce stress. In addition to taking care of your physical health, staying engaged in your community or church and being in community with others is beneficial for mental health, Cann said. But at the same time, be honest with yourself about what you want to do and only accept invitations or participate in activities that you feel you can handle, she added. The place of gratitude Tsang suggests approaching challenging emotions with gratitude as it “might also provide context and perspective for our loss and potentially transform our negative emotions.” “As an example, I might feel frustrated that I am sad but then feel grateful that I have good family and neighbors to check on me and coworkers to help me finish the tasks that I can’t do while I’m down,” Tsang said. “This gratitude might help reduce my frustration by helping me see the support that is present in my life, on which I had not previously reflected.” At the same time, she reiterated that, in addition to cultivating gratitude, it’s important for people to permit themselves to experience negative emotions such as grief and sadness in response to life circumstances. “It’s okay if it’s hard to experience gratitude. God meets us where we are,” Tsang said. Evaluate traditions and embrace memories Cann suggests evaluating family traditions, choosing those that are most important to continue and starting new traditions that include their loved one. “A lot of people feel like when that person is gone, the love is gone too, but the love is still there,” Cann said. “You wouldn't feel the grief or the big hole that you now have if you didn't have all of this love in the first place.” She suggests embracing their loved one’s presence by including a place at the table for Christmas dinner, making their favorite recipe or finding other ways to continue the bonds. By doing these things, “you're including them in your conversation, and you're making space for that person, both literally and symbolically,” Cann said. Supporting someone who is grieving Being supportive of someone grieving requires patience and vulnerability. “Engage with the person and ask how you can best support them, and let them know that you are thinking about them during this time,” Cann said. Sometimes, friends or family members don’t want to bring up death during the holidays because they don't want to make people sad at a joyful time. “But the point is, they already are sad, so bringing it up allows them to express it” and feel accepted in their pain, Cann said. It also is important to remember that not all grief is related to death. There are many types of loss that people experience such as divorce or disease. The Baylor researchers note that we can’t decide or predict what defines another person's grief, but we can offer love and support. Approaching the holidays when experiencing grief over a death or a deep loss may be painful at first, but using these strategies can help us face the future by celebrating with gratitude what we had in the past. Ultimately, the holidays are a time for reflection, connection and self-compassion. Allow yourself to feel your emotions fully – whether joyful, challenging or a mix of both – and use them as guides for meaningful action. Looking to know more or arrange an interview? Simply click on the expert's icon below or contact: Shelby Cefaratti-Bertin today.

View all posts
Powered by