I was thinking about how to make a post about the New Pornographers seem fresh. Their last album came out a month ago, and it’s hardly as if they are an unknown band waiting for intrepid bloggers to discover them. But they are a great group, and their newest album Challengers is their best effort yet. So in an attempt to make a post about them interesting, I will write about another group of new pornographers— Facebook users.
I signed up for Facebook with some trepidation. I didn’t need Dateline specials to tell me Myspace was a pervert haven, so I avoided it. But Facebook offered a certain amount of respectability. I convinced myself it was like putting my name in the phonebook: an easy way to facilitate communication. I updated my profile dutifully with new snide observations once a month, and returned wall posts.
This summer, a bit bored, I decided to see what people at my old high school were doing. After reading the incoherent ramblings of peers rebelliously relating their antics of drinking and awkward sexual encounters, acts that would shock 17th century puritans, I emerged from my room with a realization. Here, I decided, was the most hardcore pornography online. People exposing their privacy with no dignity, amplifying anything that will get attention and nothing that shows sincerity
People should not be allowed to control their own image. It leads to inane competitions of who can show themselves to be more interesting than others. And just like the baffling world of on-line skin, all you get is increasingly bizarre attempts to be more interesting than the other guy. Even attempts at honesty in such mediums are contorted. It’s Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle— observation distorts the observed.
My message: Go out, make real friends. I guess look at less porn. And listen to the New Pornographers new album. They’re on tour now, and I am looking forward to seeing them in Philadelphia on October 26. Their music has an honesty that makes me think recording it was a second thought to making it. Entirely unlike, of course, the thought process of the collective hive on Facebook.
From Challengers:
The New Pornographers - All The Things That Go To Make Heaven And Earth
The New Pornogrpahers - Failsafe
What I’m most excited to see live (hint, hint A.C. Newman):
The New Pornographers - The Bleeding Heart Show
-Jacob
2 comments ↓
interesting take on facebook. i agree, and usually find that the ones with the most crap on their page are the ones so full of crap that there is no room for personality.
Those applications are the worst. Some people accumulate so many apps their pages won’t even load all the way. You have to dig through all the crap to find any sign of human.
I disagree about controlling your own image - yes, it gets abused a lot, but facebook also allows you to express yourself without the burdens of physical appearance, etc. It brings out the best and worst in people.
Speaking of the best, I saw the NPs two weeks ago and they were amazing. They’ve played bleeding heart show at every show so far (on this tour) so you’re in luck.
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