Empire of Illusion: Becoming Informed
All things considered, I lead an extremely comfortable life. I am not middle class in terms of income, and I do not live beyond my means, but I have a few luxuries (my computer, my schooling, my delicious food, internet access, cable, etc) which a few people, even in my country, have a means to access regularly. I often reflect on my privilege, and try to think of ways that I can ensure equality and accessibility for others, and not let my privilege get in the way of me seeing how terrible things can be for some most people in the world.
Which is why I was glad I read Chris Hedges' Empire of Illusion (Thank you, Darling!) which highlighted my obliviousness to my own privilege and the fragility of this world that I live in to the nth degree. The book's general idea is that we have become so detached from reality, through a series of mass illusions and make-believe perpetrated by mass media and corporations, that we are left struggling to find the means to take a stand and make real change in our society, or even to see the wrongs around us. It humbled me to think of how little I knew about the inner workings of some of these illusions, like the pornography industry.
With that book's message burned into my brain, I think that I am going to try to become more aware as both a citizen (Of the world and the U.S) and a consumer. It's one thing to glibly think it doesn't matter while watching TV or keeping up with your favourite celebrity (Stephen Fry, I confess) on twitter. But I want to make informed decisions and stick with them, so I can destroy this delusion built up around me, and build a more substantial world for myself and others out of more than illusion. Not an empire, but a community.
To start, I'm going to be a lot more careful about where and how I shop. It's too easy to just go to the cheapest store, especially as a poor college student. It's an illusion (Which Hedges should have given page time to, I think) to think that our purchases don't matter. The time has come think about what the true cost of our cheap food, clothing, and gas really is to the world and the people in it.
Secondly, I am going to be conscientious about how I consume media. I admit, I was bored, waiting for Jeopardy to come on, and I kind of zoned while Family Guy was on. Then, I snapped out of it, because something happened: They made a joke out of domestic violence. I shut off the TV and decided I'd wait till later for Jeopardy. I know when it comes on, there's no need to sit through crap like that while waiting. If you don't watch it, they can't profit from it.
Thirdly, while I won't actively consume such garbage in pop culture, I'll do my best to stymie the worst ones that come up in otherwise quality media. Whether it's something which caught my eye on NPR about lack of disability inclusion, or a favourite blog getting something wrong, I'm going to not remain silent on it. It may make me pesky, but I'd rather be pesky than silent. Plus, at least I'm not trolling.
The spirit of the book is inherently pessimistic. I'm sorry that it is so bitter, but I at least hope the author perks up if he knew how his book inspired me to take baby steps. Sure, I may be a warrior waving a sword at the incoming tide, but still.
Which is why I was glad I read Chris Hedges' Empire of Illusion (Thank you, Darling!) which highlighted my obliviousness to my own privilege and the fragility of this world that I live in to the nth degree. The book's general idea is that we have become so detached from reality, through a series of mass illusions and make-believe perpetrated by mass media and corporations, that we are left struggling to find the means to take a stand and make real change in our society, or even to see the wrongs around us. It humbled me to think of how little I knew about the inner workings of some of these illusions, like the pornography industry.
With that book's message burned into my brain, I think that I am going to try to become more aware as both a citizen (Of the world and the U.S) and a consumer. It's one thing to glibly think it doesn't matter while watching TV or keeping up with your favourite celebrity (Stephen Fry, I confess) on twitter. But I want to make informed decisions and stick with them, so I can destroy this delusion built up around me, and build a more substantial world for myself and others out of more than illusion. Not an empire, but a community.
To start, I'm going to be a lot more careful about where and how I shop. It's too easy to just go to the cheapest store, especially as a poor college student. It's an illusion (Which Hedges should have given page time to, I think) to think that our purchases don't matter. The time has come think about what the true cost of our cheap food, clothing, and gas really is to the world and the people in it.
Secondly, I am going to be conscientious about how I consume media. I admit, I was bored, waiting for Jeopardy to come on, and I kind of zoned while Family Guy was on. Then, I snapped out of it, because something happened: They made a joke out of domestic violence. I shut off the TV and decided I'd wait till later for Jeopardy. I know when it comes on, there's no need to sit through crap like that while waiting. If you don't watch it, they can't profit from it.
Thirdly, while I won't actively consume such garbage in pop culture, I'll do my best to stymie the worst ones that come up in otherwise quality media. Whether it's something which caught my eye on NPR about lack of disability inclusion, or a favourite blog getting something wrong, I'm going to not remain silent on it. It may make me pesky, but I'd rather be pesky than silent. Plus, at least I'm not trolling.
The spirit of the book is inherently pessimistic. I'm sorry that it is so bitter, but I at least hope the author perks up if he knew how his book inspired me to take baby steps. Sure, I may be a warrior waving a sword at the incoming tide, but still.