(no subject)

[dan_e_boy]

There is one movie that is an exact representation of how I see the world and how that perspective is responsible for my anxieties. That movie is Koyaanisqatsi, which you likely have not heard of. There is no dialogue, no featured characters, and no plot, but there is a story--a depiction of humanity's urban sprawl and industrial reliance weaved through haunting cinematography and music composed by Philip Glass. This movie is capable of evincing not only a huge range of emotion but also a visceral experience of taste, touch, smell, sound, and sight that sucks you in and thrashes you from location to location and event to event.
But you don't have to take my word for it--the whole thing is available on YouTube.

There is an intended message, and depending on your perspective it is not difficult to find the message pretentious, heavy-handed, or downright boring, but the director really lets the images speak for themselves and elicit whatever feelings come naturally to the viewer, and those feelings can easily conflict with the intent. For me, Koyaanisqatsi lives out my nightmares so I do not have to, letting me experience and view them passively in a safe, lucid environment. It allows me to embrace, accept, and confront those hidden anxieties, so that one day I will not dream of skyscrapers and public transportation any longer.