File spoon-archives/nietzsche.archive/nietzsche_2000/nietzsche.0008, message 22


From: "James Kennedy" <jameske3001-AT-clara.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Nietzsche ist tot
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 21:07:08 +0100


Hi Syphon,

Do we really have individual freedom? I think that people live, in general,
in a state of low energy - Nietzsche may have called this exhaustion. As
individuals, there is not the energy for pursuing goals. The unemployed live
in conditions of banality and understimulation. The employed often go about
their jobs robot fashion wishing for the end of the day, even though they
will only return home to watch television. I don't think we are free. I
think we are drugged by the media - especially television.

I quite liked some of the metaphor in the film 'The Matrix'. It had the
human race enslaved by machines for the purpose of being battery power for
the machines. In return for the reality of the matrix the human race has its
energy sapped away. For me this is a good analogy to society and the mass
media. In exchange for our labours we are provided with television and radio
and newspapers 'jam packed full of great entertainment that can fulfill our
lives'. The actual effect of the mass media is to keep us in our homes doing
nothing, sapping away our potential energy - we are atrophying.

Let us try an experiment. Switch off the TV and Radio and not read magazines
or newspapers. How long before we become agitated and distratced as though
we were suffering 'cold turkey' from an addiction? How long before we can
hear the uncomfortable silences that the media fills?

There are alternatives. From the uncomfortable silences can come inspiration
and creativity. Those silences are blank slates ready to be filled - with
artistic endeavour.

jameske

----- Original Message -----
From: Syphon Soul <haengen-AT-c2i.net>
To: <nietzsche-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: Nietzsche ist tot


> James Kennedy wrote:
>
> > Hi Syphon,
> >
> > I don't understand. Can you describe this revolution? When it occured
etc...
> >
> > If you are speaking metaphorically then could you describe what you mean
in
> > a more literal sense for my benefit. I merely wish to understand the
> > perspective from which you are coming.
> >
> > jameske
>
>    'Revolution' of course is too strong a term. Evolution would be more
fitting.
> But times pre- and post- Nietzsche are in deed quite revoltive in their
> differences. We now posess a great deal of individual freedom, which we
> squander. Also the value-system has been equally individualized. Actually,
we
> are living in a world of quite rabit perspectivism, to use a pun of sorts.
Yet,
> despite all these superficial signs of 'the revolution' it has not
occured.
> Humanity is still bound by it's profound fear of knowing itself, of using
> psychology on itself. We can easily pick apart others, but how is it that
we
> cannot pick apart ourselves? Put ourselves in perspective... move BEYOND
> oneself.
>
>    At what tree I am barking, I am not quite sure. Only thing I know is
that the
> more 'learned' I become, the less I am able to justify a claim for my
'own'
> philosophy.
>
>   But is there really anything wrong with being a hub, an annex for
different
> views? My only problem is that I am not one who enjoys being a reaction.
>
>   Haakon G. Engen
>
>
>
>
> --- from list nietzsche-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
>
>
>



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