Web Videos and The Other
I have been watching a great deal of web-exclusive videos lately to familiarize myself with the content and vision of my new employer.
As I edit different interfaces on the website, the videos begin to play before I press the edit button to edit the post. I keep thinking about the psychological transformation that takes place as the web page morphs from a static window to a container of time and experience as a human begins to move on the screen. It is as if an actual human is present, sharing a story with the viewer. This makes me feel guilty pressing edit to leave the page, thereby quieting the person.
What makes us love so much? I am beginning to think it comes from spurts of desperation, regret from being too critical to the people we love. These regrets cause us to gratefully cry at the site of poppy-covered hill-lined freeways, have visions of bathing our parents in small kitchen sinks, or overwhelming gratitude for the young man at the coffee shop for making flawless warm scones every morning (no, I won’t let that one go).
Were I to communicate properly, as my best self, I do not think I would be as shocked by the motion and presence of the awakened web page human.
Yes, I am saying that an inability to move from inside out, from our internal architecture to common space, causes a person to become more and more shocked by everything that moves outside of the mind, that uses and builds upon, even changes our language and context. These kind of changes often dismantle our logic and create a sense of panic and stress.
I would not trade these intense, full-body climaxes of tenderness to avoid the (sometimes terrible) shocks of the other. Not even for consistency, stability, and what could be considered greatness. I think those virtues might relieve us of the heavy feeling, the beautiful weight of existence.
May we embrace intersection, even when it tears us apart.
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The scones warm our souls every morning. Dependably flawless.
I feel like we are becoming more web based humans these days. In a general way. Investing ourselves deeper and more sincerely than ever.
(p.s. Can we force ourselves to do more print stuff soon?)
Comment by Matthew — April 30, 2008 #
Thank you for this.
I feel panic and stress when my life lacks intersections. The terrible shocks of the other are what calm me, the weight. I know this is the same as what you’re saying.
I think the older we get, the more acquainted with terror, the more virtue fails us, so long as we’re looking around, I guess, and conscious of movement.
It’s the question of existence, and why everything we’re so entirely a part of can still be a riddle to us. Perfect little eggs. I’m so glad you have this job.
Comment by Alisha — May 1, 2008 #
when routine bites hard
and ambitions grow low
and resentment rides high
but emotions won’t grow
then intersection
intersection will tear us apart
again
Comment by GORdon — May 8, 2008 #