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<\/a><\/p>\nMany societies focus on youth and strength over old age; Young points out how although the Buddha died at age 80, he\u2019s always depicted as young and full of life, and this focus can greatly impact people\u2019s outlook on age.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you have the founder of a religion emphasizing youth, that has an enormous influence,\u201d says Young. \u201cWe know the Buddha died at 80, but he attained enlightenment as a young man, and he wanted everybody to search for enlightenment in youth, because you never know when death is going to occur.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, other cultures, such as those in East Asia and many Native American societies, show great respect and admiration for their elders.<\/p>\n \u201cIn East Asia, we find that the elderly are venerated, so there\u2019s worship of ancestors, which is very important,\u201d says Young. \u201cThe founder of Taoism, Lao Tzu, the legend is that he was born as an old man, and he had been in his mother\u2019s womb for many years, so venerability has such esteem, and that carries all the way through much of East Asian culture.\u201d<\/p>\n Eventually, the widespread access to technology such as photography also changed how age was portrayed in societies, says Young, because art and media were no longer restricted to the affluent populations.<\/p>\n \u201cPhotography democratized the access to portraiture, because it was usually only elite men that could afford to have the means to have portraits painted,\u201d she says, pointing to rulers and other people of wealth as examples.<\/p>\n Young believes age can be thought of in analogy to a leaf, beginning strong and green in youth before transitioning to red and gold, and finally brown as it withers and dies.<\/p>\n \u201cThis idea of early old age and late old age is captured in the metaphor \u2018like an autumn leaf,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cAn autumn leaf can be brilliant red and gold, and then we can see it turn brown. This is an age that captures both\u2014it is a transitional age, and an age of ambiguity.\u201d<\/p>\n