Thoughts on "reality" - brought on by the idea that graphic and oft-used violence or cruelty is more "real" in some way than more positive things... Ask somebody about the real world these days and it will probably involve urban life of some sort, money, noise, pollution, etc etc. Answers won't always be negative of course but they will often be centred on human/human concerns. One thing that has changed over time is that more and more of us are living in cities or large urban environments and our lives tend to revolve around exclusively human things - I wonder if this change is related to the change spoken of above.
Most people don't live in the midst of beauty anymore. They find beauty where they can, for sure, but its a different thing not to have to seek out clean air, clear skies, sights and sounds that are pleasing and can be enjoyed without having to make an effort. In every city you have to deliberately ignore aspects of your environment - the feel of the air on your pores - the harsh unyielding feel of concrete - angles that slice up the space around you into neat and restrictive parcels and blockages - the constant sound and smell of traffic - the constant presence of too many other people, none of whom you know. Most people can become accustomed to this and some thrive on it - but for many its just something to be endured or not thought about. We are our own predator and our own prey - most people will never experience that kind of interaction with another kind of animal. We are cut off from the natural world, cocooned in our little manmade shells - a goodly proportion of us even live and work in air-conditioning. Weather is not life, its an inconvenience or something nice out the window, only to be enjoyed on weekends.
I could go on and on forever but its raining gently here on my little tin roof, and that always makes me sleepy, especially in winter, here in my warm cocoon...so I'll just toss out those half-formed thoughts for general digestion.
