“The sense in which the perfect fake becomes the thing it mimics, and this through some strange yet static process reveals some truth about the world.”
Well good luck understanding that the first time you read it. I am still not sure that I quite understand its full meaning, especially in my upcoming attempt to relate it to popular culture, but the quote sure sounds intelligent. I recently finished reading the Southern Reach Trilogy and this quote was taken from the third novel entitled Acceptance. Without any context at all, this next sentence may sound outrageous. One of the main characters was using this quote to try to get a verbal, or any reaction, out of his companion who just happened to be a replica of the main character from the first novel who escaped Area X. Yeah, I can’t even go further in depth on that story with any confidence either, as the conclusion, or lack thereof, of this trilogy left me with more questions than answers. And not in a cute, “what have I just read?” kind of way, more like a sad, harrowing “what have I just read?” kind of way.
However, the writer is talented and he left us with this quote, which maybe shouldn’t be used to address any other topic, but dammit I want to try. When I read that quote (over and over, searching for meaning), I found myself thinking of the proliferation of “fake news” and its power over individuals and even more damning, groups and populations. From what I believe should be common knowledge, fake news is not anything new, as propaganda has existed for as long as someone wanted to skew another person’s opinion. I mean an entire industry was developed into creating a form of fake news through departments like public relations and marketing. Making something ordinary seem better than it really is to gain attention or to soften public outcry on a less-than-positive situation by altering how you deliver the news of such an event seems more commonplace now than delivering the straightforward truth.
With the age of social media upon us, susceptibility to schemes designed to shape opinion seems more prevalent, if only because we are currently living through this weird iteration of real life. What I want and hope to explore, though not fully in this post, is why we as a population cannot just take a step back, remove our own feelings from the situation and apply critical thought to address such topics. The problem exists because we trust these sources to provide us with actual news, but sadly we are easily taken advantage of, most of the time unknowingly. Even when there is a foolproof, fact-based article presented, all it now takes is someone with authority to denounce the publication or author and the journalistic work is shrugged off as another untruthful news source.
The most frightening aspect of this phenomenon (I believe it can still be called a phenomenon) is that we are bordering on no longer being able to tell what is real and what is fake, which led me to citing this quote. When we can no longer properly identify what is a true news story or what is a flat out lie, designed to personify actual truth, we have taken a drastic step towards the dystopia portrayed in George Orwell’s 1984. Of course this horror story was quite extreme. The literal burning of all history to replace fact with propaganda, forcing the public to believe whatever the governmental machine wanted, without any discourse or opposition. In our world, despite what darkness may lay behind the motives, we are at the mercy of institutions that have gained our trust: Media outlets, the government, social media sources, basically anyone who has skin in the game to make money off of or gain (more) power from influenced public opinion. The “perfect fake” news article created to combat a true news story, with the specific goal of establishing comfort for someone with an opposing view to a factual account, has now become commonplace in our society that craves immediate information.
I cannot foresee a scenario where we, as a population, can ever crawl out of this growing abyss. Morbid, I know, but what can we do? How do we change the trajectory of this downward spiral of pitting everyone against each other? We show no compassion or understanding of another human being’s viewpoint simply because it opposes your own thoughts. The ability to listen to others, just listen, has become a desired character trait that the majority of our population seems to lack. Was this never taught or is it a side effect of the infighting that is burning amongst our communities? We are yelling opinions that really are not even our own without bothering to stop and listen or even think about any other voice in the room.
Keeping with this quote, I don’t know how ‘static’ the process of transforming the minds of others with fake news actually is. It takes the active effort of someone or some organization to create this nonsense for a distinct purpose. That in and of itself does not meet the definition of ‘static,’ so this part of the quote may not hold true to this attempt at tying it to our current atmosphere of truth vs. lies.
However, the last four or five years have certainly revealed a truth about the world. We are all handicapped. Handicapped by ourselves and the limits of our intellect. The term “sheep” is thrown around, as we, en masse, follow anything that catches our attention, is new and shiny, and/or fits our “developed” world view. Those with power recognize this and unfortunately, continue to exploit this human flaw for personal or unnatural gain.
Going back to my somber view on the future, how can anyone argue against it? What leads us to believe that we can crawl out from under this darkness? Do we, as a collective, even want to? This paradox cannot even be traced to only one side of any argument either. Everyone is at fault, yet blaming your opponent, and only your opponent, builds upon this crack in the foundation. Without the ability or willingness to recognize this problem, without taking steps to actively assess each issue with objectivity and intelligence, unity and peace will only continue to appear insurmountable and forever distant.