Our cultural malaise—despair, alienation, idleness—is rooted in the loss of myths, particularly in literature. Social media and consumer culture have replaced these guiding signposts with trivial, hollow imitations…
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2 days ago · 7 likes · 1 comment · Christopher Gage
Chris, thanks. You might also check out Falling Skies, a five year TV series. I discovered it on Amazon Prime (we don’t have TV anymore) and watched it over and over. then Prime discontinued it. After a panic, I bought it. I don’t watch it as frequently now, but it really talks to me. What happens when everything, I mean EVERYTHING, has been destroyed. You have family, and those who become family. That’s it.
I can see the scenes and hear the dialog from the whole thing basically in my head now. So, yeah, I’m addicted. But that’s not the point. The point is that it teaches lessons that I think we need.
For example, I am a reader of apocalyptic fiction, and have often wondered what is best: hunker down alone or join a group. I still debate it, but Falling Skies shows that the latter has potential. With the world getting so crazy, maybe these lessons need to be heeded.
Anyway, I am glad you’re back.
Wonderful article. I have had similar thoughts recently myself, when I found myself spending a lot of the time on the weekends with my very young kids with one earphone in listening to something most of the day. Some things were elevated, many were stupid YouTube randoms... but it all was taking away time I should have been in the moment with my children building something that matters like telling family stories, listening to their thoughts, pointing out things we could look at out the window... I don't think I am alone in that, but it all came into focus what I was doing a couple of weeks back and I have taken PAINS to leave the earphones off and out of reach so that I can be there and not surfing along in distraction. Great, thought stimulating piece - it was great to see something new from you!