Here at PDP, I'd like to take a moment apart from doing the home server how-to's to comment on a recent Internet phenomenon. If you haven't seen the video 2 girls 1 cup, you need to. It is probably the most wretchedly disgusting piece of video that I have seen in a very long time, or possibly ever. I will NOT be linking to it because I am certain that it will violate some rules with my nice host, Blogger, and my sponsors and advertisers.
Why do you need to see it, you ask? Am I actually endorsing sickening and stomach churning “pornography”? Well yes, indirectly. It's not the subject matter of the film, per se, but the Internet cultural reaction to the film that is important. It never ceases to amaze me as to what a brilliantly dynamic place the Internet truly is. The Internet phenomenon, such as the squirrel nuts or the dancing baby, were at one time the top things on the Internet. They peak in popularity than inevitably fade, becoming just another annoyingly stupid Internet cliche`. But for the months that they are popular, these viral Internet works have an amazing penetration (excuse the pun). Nearly EVERYONE who owns a computer and is on the Internet has been attracted to these things.
What is so special about 2 girls 1 cup? First, even though I'm not linking to it, I'm certain you will not have to look far to find this video. It wouldn't be viral if it was difficult to find. Ask around. EVERYONE has seen it, you can find someone to point you to it. Now, if I were to tell you exactly what the subject matter of the video is, you would never watch it. Suffice it to say, it is sickeningly vile. But here is the point. Regardless of the subject matter, millions of people have seen it, and many of them have convinced others to watch it. This is one of the most interesting things about a phenomenon like this. Much like the proverbial train wreck, most of the people, though offended and disgusted, will not be able to tear their eyes from it. They almost have to watch it in disbelief that a human being would be willing to participate in such a vile act.
Many of you are familiar with goatse, which, compared to 2 girls 1 cup, is a children's work. Regardless, millions upon millions are familiar with goatse, and they can instantly recall the shocking image, as well as their almost palpable disgust upon viewing it. To me, both goatse and 2 girls 1 cup are some of the most effective artworks that have existed in modern times.
Artwork, do I hear you say? Effective? Panvamp, have you gone mad? No friends, I haven't gone mad. To me, art is a work that invokes emotional feelings in the viewer, like the Sistine Chapel invokes a feeling of humility or divinity, and The Wizard of Oz invokes a sense of wonder. All works of art do this, great or not-so-great. In the case of goatse and 2 girls 1 cup, the emotion is not particularly pleasant, but the emotion is there nonetheless and it is very, very, strong. I mean do you know how powerful a set of moving images have to be to actually illicit a physical, vomitous response in some people? I don't feel it's up to us to decide which emotion the artwork invokes but there is no question that these works are effective at conveying the emotions. So, now that we have established that these works are indeed art, and they are good at doing what art is supposed to do, the amazing thing is the widespread nature of these. More people have seen these artworks than many classical paintings, and most of the people that do view these are affected more strongly than those people who see the Mona Lisa.
In some societies and cultures, these works are most likely illegal or, at the very least, considered “obscene”. Yet with the magic of the Internet, people in those societies can experience this work anyway. Why does everyone want to see these films? It's the same reason that people spend hours looking at Internet porn. They provoke responses that societies have stated are not good, and should be avoided. But people do not want to avoid emotions. They may think that they do, but people like having emotions, and the act of provoking them is something that they enjoy. Thats why great books, gripping stories, beautiful paintings, and yes, even disgusting pieces of film are watched by so many people. Entertainment is arguably the largest part of people's lives. And people want to especially see “Taboo” pieces of art, JUST because society says they are bad. People WANT art to be no-holds-barred. People want a free expression of information. They don't want limits placed on expression.
I think nothing illustrates this more than the amount of people clamoring to see what they know will shock and offend. Maybe that's one of the reasons that so many people are offended by so many things. Do they enjoy the emotional response? Do they like to have their blood boiled, their stomachs turned, and their skin crawl? I think the answer is yes. The Internet, while in a relatively free and uncensored state (I'm looking at you, China!), is the perfect vehicle for ideas, especially for ideas that are “offensive” though apparently “popular”. Perhaps the anonymity is the factor. “No I'd never watch smut like that,” is probably a common response when people ask others about this video in real life, but trust me, with the door closed, computer is on, and that sweet, sweet, information injection coursing through their veins, the can't help themselves. I mean there is a REASON that there is so much porn on line. Thats what people want!
So go find it, experience it, let it sicken you, let it revolt you and enjoy the fact that you have emotions and emotional responses to things. Its easy to say that we shouldn't have emotions that are offensive or revolting, but first it will be obscenity, then unpopular speech, then violence and soon we say that the only reason that there is anything wrong is because people have any emotions. If you want a little view of that, check out the excellent Equilibrium, starring Christian Bale. No gross out movies in that society I can tell you. And a society who cannot handle ideas, even shocking and revolting ones, is not a society that I want to live in. And thank God for the Internet, for without it we may have lost a worldwide outlet of idea exchange that can influence so many of our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment