Existential crisis in the age of show business

Living in the age of show business is disorienting and disconcerting. Despite being bombarded with a plethora of new information daily, our attention spans are fleeting, shifting from one tidbit to the next in rapid succession. Our minds are filled not with profound insights but with trivial rumors, unwilling to engage in critical thought.

The most striking paradox of our era lies in the juxtaposition of an abundance of information and the prevalence of vacant minds — a stark contrast to the belief “the more you read, the deeper your thoughts become.” Such notions seem more suited to the age of typography, where logical reasoning and a sequential acquisition of knowledge were paramount. This method fostered a systematic comprehension of information, nurturing critical thinking skills. In the age of typography, information was crafted with precision and care, demanding a high level of literacy to produce, ensuring its reliability and quality.

In contrast, the current age of show business presents fragmented information devoid of structure or coherence, lowering the barriers to entry and inundating us with a deluge of low-quality content.

The ways to approach information have also changed. In the age of typography, we actively sought out knowledge, engaging in a process of reading, deciphering, and interpreting hidden meanings — a deliberate act that forged a profound connection between reader and text. This ensured that the acquired information impacted the readers’ thinking. In the age of show business, information inundates us unexpectedly and intrusively, bombarding our senses with news alerts, autoplay videos, and emotionally charged background music. These fleeting encounters leave us momentarily affected before we swiftly move on, failing to retain or reflect on the information presented.

These realizations deepen my existential crisis.

What is the point of existence then, if the society is teeming with superficiality? Already, I am growing tired of many youths transforming from distinctive individuals into a homogeneous crowd. They look the same, dress the same, talk the same, and live the same. Even activities once rich with meaning have been commodified in the age of show business: fun gatherings simplified to photo ops for social media validation, birthday celebrations reduced to displays of social status. Many individuals without self-awareness are drawn into an endless and meaningless competition. Sometimes I wonder, do they too experience an existential crisis when they conform? At other times, I doubt myself; how can I judge these people when I too am a victim of this facade?

Nevertheless, I welcome these introspective thoughts, considering them as evidence of my self-awareness and independent thinking. Hopefully, one day, when I achieve spiritual self-consistency, I can finally transcend this existential crisis.