10/28/2018 2 Comments October 28th, 2018I think what I have come across is the extreme emptiness of life. One only needs to spend a few minutes, although often at least an hour, on the internet to see. Nihilism is not that things are meaningless. Nihilism means that things are superficial. Spend an hour in a psychedelic trance on IMGUR, or other similar websites, and report back if one fills satiated or if one feels numb. For myself it is the latter.
“culture can be something other than a decoration of life” – Nietzche A society without culture is one without soul. We are soulless. How sad it must be to know that Vancouver, the metropolitan area of British Columbia is considered the “soulless city.” I have no idea how widespread this nickname is, in use, but it strikes the chord. Empty blocks, walked upon by empty soles. Our society is in spiritual crisis (a collective identity crisis). Identity, missing as the critical apparatus to life, thought, appearance and will – otherwise known as culture. There is no vibrancy in our lifestyle, nor our thoughts, nor our appearance and the only will to speak of holds on to that which ought to pass. If I am wrong then please show to me the direction I need to head. For the pursuit of identity, whether individual or collective, is not concealed nor told, only indicated. “The Greeks gradually learned to organize the chaos by following the Delphic teaching and thinking back to themselves, that is, to their real needs, and letting their pseudo-needs die out” – Nietzsche There are many calls to align ourselves back to our real needs. The over-reach of materialism and the superficiality of nihilistic digital relations. We look upon our phones without the dire recognition that they are but extensions of ourselves. They are mechanical minds inorganic in material but replicable of our energetic capacities. Look at the indicators of Silicon Valley parents who raise their children tech-free. Social media can not remedy social isolation. That need comes from true person-to-person, face-to-face connection. “The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress.” – Charlie Chaplin If only we could dig a little deeper. Many might argue we already are, to which I reply this meditation is in hopes a catalyst. A catalyst to a thought premiered on Oct 15th 1940 in The Great Dictatorship by Charlie Chaplin that “more than machinery, we need humanity.” The distracted techno-optimist forgets that while we have gained the power of gods we have not the wisdom. We rely so heavily on our experts that we have forgotten both how to question and that it is okay to not know. For it is better to not know truly than to know falsely. At my work we believe that the world would be a better place if we pursue “spirit in service for vibrant communities.” Vibrant meaning full of energy or enthusiasm; or in short, full of life. To me it is because, in the words of Nietzche, that “culture can grow and flourish only out of life.” For surely a cultured society wouldn’t allow climate change to simply come and pass, or look upon an opioid crisis without at least an attempt to look beneath the surface, or submit to the dying of economies and of ecology. Death becomes death even if we give it lipstick. As such, life becomes life and there is no need for lipstick. Such things are beautiful as they are and illicit states of creativity to which is the regenerative momentum of life, and of culture, that becomes fulfilling to the point of over spilling (as well life requires death). Surely, in an era where tourism is seen as a remedy for rural communities we would recognize we are selling culture. With it comes the opportunity to make ourselves superficial to outsiders, to sell a lifestyle that isn't real. When I traveled to Jaco Beach, Costa Rica the tourist strip felt like home. However, when I left the main road I quickly found run down shacks, fences and men playing checkers with bottle caps. What were they trying to sell me? What I wanted to see. On the other, the more difficult introspective journey of continuous self-development of not only myself, but of society is an opportunity to cultivate the means to which culture generates. To enrich life, thoughts, appearance and will into a vibrant culture that instills pride into its community members. I suppose it's part of the Existential Nature of Community Planning and of humanity generally. A journey that I am undoubtedly on. I'll admit that I do not know who I am, nor who we are. That answer seems to depart as we arrive. However, as I grow older the only way I combat nihilism is to dive beneath the surface. In the process I develop my own identity as the critical apparatus to my life, thoughts, appearance and will. Perhaps the same thing is needed for community?
2 Comments
10/15/2020 03:14:26 am
There are times when I feel the same. There is an emptiness inside of me that I do not feel like I can outrun it. There is something that is missing inside of me, and I have no idea how to fill that void. It interests me that there are people who see the world like this as well. I do not want to be negative, but it is what it is. I hope that I can enjoy stuff soon.
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11/12/2022 08:42:12 pm
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AuthorRobin Roger Gagne is a freelance writer, web designer, and SEO wizard. Archives
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