Each of us has been put on earth with the ability to do something well. We cheat ourselves and the world if we don't use that ability as best we can.
In our western civilization we have the glorious example, the great standard of perfection and the teachings of the Christ to guide us. He acts for us as Mediator between our personality and our Soul.
From depicting the past, so goes the suspicion, it is a short step to glorifying the past.

