Had the wonderful opportunity to go to the circus after many decades of not going. Glad to see it still alive and kicking in the digital age. The numbers were not high enough to remind me of the mindblowing screams from when I was 7. Out of my family, I have to admit, I was the most impressed by it. Watching a man with 6 lions in a cage! The trapeze artists and the elefant acrobatics. These were real people doing things beyond human normal capability, but my kids were not impressesd as much. With YouTube and videogames these death defying tricks pale in comparison. I grew up with a old 13 vacuum tube tv, radio, and books. The Circus was a life changing event, that defined for me the capacity of humans to be able to accomplish the impossible. My dreams and hopes came alive that night. However, and perhaps sadly for my kids it was just a higher quality YouTube video with uncomfortable seats.
Alex's rants and thoughts about technology and philosophy.
Now we can "fake" all those actions so easily on the TV screen. But it's not just that, I think it's just the times and trends. I think sports, space, speed are things that appeal to the masses these days. No longer Man vs Animal and his own limitations, but Man vs Space/Time. But hey, maybe the circus is due for a come back! As we know from so many movies, games, stories that we just rewrite the past for entertainment.
ReplyDeleteI guess you are right E.T. We need to have the people on the space station doing a Circus. :-)
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