In a previous post, I wrote about the issues of apathy in the culture of the U.S. Although I have tried to move past apathy, I have not been able to. I think that apathy is a highly important issue in contemporary times. It is also, thankfully as something I am a little obsessed with it, highly relevant to readings and discussions in the class I am writing this blog post alongside.
As I discussed in the post that I mentioned above, the character of the god Dionysus, both in Frenzy by Percival Everett and Euripides ancient play The Bacchae, is highly apathetic. Apathy in a god is fitting and expected yet, high levels of apathy in humans can be quite dangerous. The theme of apathy and distance from one’s self and by extension one’s surroundings are a prevenient theme in Everett’s work. The character of Dionysus is highly apathetic in Frenzy, but also in Everett’s work I am Not Sidney Poitier, the character of Ted Turner could be seen as very apathetic. Ted Turner is the appointed guardian of Not Sidney, the protagonist. Despite this, Turner is constantly putting distance between himself and Not Sidney acting aloof and distant in many of Not Sidney’s times of need. For example, at one point in the novel, Not Sidney is very upset because he is staying with a racist family and calls Turner for comfort and advice. Not Sidney explains the dynamic and details of his situation making it glaringly apparent that he upset. Turner gives very unhelpful advice and no comfort whatsoever and quickly ends the phone call because he is “off to Montana tomorrow” [Everett 147]. This is but one example of Turner’s apathetic distance from Not Sidney.
Although there are many instances of apathy throughout both of the novels, it is a sickening issue far beyond the content of books. The issue of apathy is highly relevant to now. Although, I have begun to realize that apathy is only a single ingredient in a sad meal that is being fed to U.S. culture. The recipe consists of apathy combined with boredom which then almost certainly leads to pacification. This meal is very dangerous because when in a state of pacification, it is very easy for an entity to be influenced. To what end U.S. culture is being influenced, I do not know.
That all being said, thankfully I am not alone in noting and being frustrated by this meal being served to my nation and to a larger extent the world. I recently found solidarity in the song Mantra by Bring Me The Horizon. This song is not only musically solid it is lyrically dense. I love the sound of this song but lyrically the song very much touches on the issues of apathy in global culture and by extension the individuals in that culture.
“Do you wanna start a cult with me?/ I’m not vibrating like I ought to be/ I need a purpose, I can’t keep surfing/ Through this existential misery” This is the first verse in Mantra and it in many ways begins the conversation of apathy, albeit in a subtle way. The speaker alludes to how the contemporary person finds the need for religion or assurance of some sort. They want this “cult” to give them a purpose so that they are not in an existential misery their entire lives. They want a busy nothing to keep them apathetic and pacified. Not that all religions are used to pacify, I by no means mean to knock religion, but I do not like to see it being used as an excuse not to act, react, etc. In this, I believe that the lyrics of Mantra and I agree. Now, the speaker implies that though the people who want this “cult” are actively aware of wanting to be a part of the cult. In this the speaker and I differ, I would argue that those in search of pacification may not even know that they are seeking busy nothings in search of apathetic pacification. It is something that they are pursuing subconsciously.
The chorus of Mantra furthers the themes from the verse, expanding issues of apathy and pacification, but more so the issue of pacification which is as previously discussed closely linked to apathy. “Before the truth will set you free, it’ll piss you off/Before you find a place to be, you’re gonna lose the plot” these are the opening lines to the chorus of Mantra. In an interview with Metal Hammer, the lead singer of Bring Me The Horizon, Oli Sykes discusses the chorus of Mantra saying, when the “chorus flips on that with ‘Before the truth will set you free, it’ll piss you off’… that’s basically saying that people would much rather live a lie than come to terms with something difficult because it doesn’t agree with what they believe in. You’re not going to like it, but the sooner you accept it your life’s going to be a lot better.” This interview sheds some light on the band’s intentions for the song, revealing that they do indeed wish to address issues of pacification. Essentially, the speaker and Sykes are saying, just floating through life isn’t enough, and people should not just accept pacification and/or seek it whether consciously or subconsciously. Additionally, Sykes makes the argument that breaking away from this pacification will improve a person’s quality of life.
The speaker of Mantra furthers the idea of apathy and pacification by using a motif of a careless therapist. By using this motif the speaker illustrates how both apathy and pacification can be damaging to the way in which people interact with one another. Additionally, this verse brings about the issue of desensitization. “Close your eyes and listen carefully/ Imagine you’re stood on a beach/ Water gently lapping at your feet/ And now you’re sinking, what were you thinking?/ That’s all the time we have this week” thus begins the second verse. In this verse, the speaker paints an image of an exercise one might easily imagine a therapist giving a client. He sharply ends the image with “that’s all the time we have this week” implying that not even therapists, who are apparently there to aid their clients, care. They are there so long as it serves them (e.g. they are getting paid) beyond that, they do not care. This verse, in particular, brings up the issue of just how desensitized people are. That being said, I think it is very important to note that there a process to this level of desensitization. One does not just leap from apathy to desensitization overnight, people are conditioned. The speaker is commenting on how through this slow process of desensitization people are becoming so distanced from those around them, even people like therapists. By not being empathic and reacting to those around one in a manner that is compassionate, a person can quickly lead themselves and other down a path of pain that leads one to disassociation from one’s surroundings and one another.
“And I know this doesn’t make a lot of sense/ But do you really wanna think all by yourself now?” this line happens during the bridge. In this line, it seems that the speaker is commenting on how selfish people have become. It is not that we had some golden age before this time, but with the rise of broad social evolution, the “self” is being focused on more than it ever has. The importance of individuality is highly stressed and by extension the importance of the individual. This is not in and of its self a bad thing, indeed I think that in moderation it is a fantastic thing. Moderation is the key word here. There is so much focus now on the individual and individuality that it is hard not to pursue the development of both to excess. Yes, it is important to focus on individuality, it is important to stress the importance of being one’s own person. In the same vein as stressing individuality, stressing the importance of the individual can quickly turn into self-interest. While self-interest is not in its self a bad thing, arguably, selfishness is. And it is far too easy for one to go from self-interested to selfish. To me, self-interest is the tendency or intention of a person to take an active interest in themselves. This can involve things like self-help, which could involve yoga, outdoor activities, etc.—whatever a person’s interest may be, or what they consider to be self-help. Indeed, I would argue that self-care falls under the umbrella term, self-interest. Yet, even in its definition self-interest begins to show its tendency towards selfishness. As a noun self-interest is defined as; “one’s personal interest or advantage, especially when pursued without regard for others.” While in and of itself, the definition of self-interest is not inherently bad but it quickly falls into dangerous territory with the word “especially”, that is when things being to go downhill towards selfishness. As an adjective selfish is defined as; “(of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure.” If that is what the majority of individuals are, or are close to becoming, shouldn’t we be concerned? I think the speaker of Mantra and I can agree, it is certainly worrisome. Yet, I think that with a good dose of personal responsibly one can cure this illness.
The chorus of Mantra is a rallying cry to people, to the world. “Before the truth will set you free, it will piss you off/Before you find a place to be, you’re gonna lose the plot/Too late to tell you now, one ear and right out the other one/’Cause all you ever do is chant the same old mantra.” If we have any hope of seeing change, we need to stop chanting that “same old mantra” we need to take a stand and rise above. We need to recognize the subtle differences between self-interest and selfishness, between apathy and empathy, we need to take an active stand for something, anything. Fight selfishness, fight laziness, fight apathy, fight boredom, fight pacification. We cannot be united if we stand for nothing. Although I have my own personal feelings on the topic, it is inarguable that there is something disturbing happening to our world. It is reassuring to have found at least two lighthouses (Percival Everett and Bring Me The Horizon) in these uncertain and often tremulous waters. It is also reassuring that the two come from very different areas, one is a highly renowned intellectual the other a rock band, yet they have noticed the same issues about our global society that I have. It makes me feel connected to these other human beings. And that is what I believe we need to strive for; connection with one another, unity as a human family.
The long and short of this is simply that apathy drives humans apart. This is obvious. But it begs the question, why are we letting it happen? If we can agree that this is a bad thing that this illness is affecting the U.S. and by extension the world as a whole, what can we do about it? I believe it is as simple as attempting to connect on a personal level with every person we come in contact with and keeping our minds open to challenge what our media is feeding us. My strategy is a simple one, and it is up to you dear reader if you feel the same as I do, to create one of your own.
Everett, Percival. Frenzy. Saint Paul, Graywolf Press, 1997.
Everett, Percival. I am Not Sidney Poitier. Minneapolis, Graywolf Press, 2009.