Bertatap Dalam Hangat

Pretty pictures and quotable captions. A click away and hundred likes. You and me. And the electrical wavelengths between us.

Minggu kemarin, saya kembali berkesempatan untuk datang ke acara Cerita Perempuan yang bertema Self Worth in a Hyperconnected Social Media World. Membahas penggunaan media sosial maupun dampaknya bagi masyarakat modern mungkin tidak ada habisnya. Media sosial secara langsung dan tidak langsung mengubah bagaimana sosialisasi bekerja maupun cara kita memandang banyak hal di dunia. Mulai dari merebaknya social influencer dan bagaimana iklan bekerja, sampai komunikasi antar individu.

Ada beberapa sesi di acara kali ini, dimana dua di antaranya merupakan sesi social experiment. Di sesi awal, kami dipasang-pasangkan dan diperbolehkan ‘mengintip’ isi media sosial pasangan masing-masing. Setelahnya kami harus menuliskan kesan pertama dan apa yang kami rasakan setelah melihat akun media sosial pasangan kami. Lewat sesi ini, saya merasa bahwa tanpa sadar, hal-hal yang kita tampilkan di dunia maya merupakan apa yang ingin kita perlihatkan pada dunia. Kita membuat persona tentang diri, berusaha menggambarkan tentang seperti apa kita dalam keseharian. Tapi, ternyata orang lain belum tentu bisa merasakan hal yang sama atau menangkap sebanyak yang kita kira.

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Reflecting Back in Black Mirror

These past days, I’ve been writing two similar pieces titled After This Night and After Last Night. If you’ve been following Black Mirror series, you might notice I’ve been inspired by one of the episodes titled San Junipero. While I understand how well written it is and why the episode got an Emmy, it’s not one of my favorite episodes. I’ve finished the entire season of Black Mirror at the end of last year. So, I thought I will write something out of it. I’m not going to write any detailed review nor any spoiler. So feel safe to read it even if you haven’t seen it.

San Junipero (Season 3, 2016)

Black Mirror is a science-fiction anthology series created by Charlie Brooker, tackling the issues of technology within the modern society. Reflecting its name, Black Mirror often use satirical and dark tones, portraying the consequences of vast technology. Though its popularity skyrocketed after the series bought by Netflix, I still like the earlier seasons better. The first season of Black Mirror, I think, is the strongest season yet. Making no room for a useless episode, tapping the right issues to its core.

“If technology is a drug – and it does feel like a drug – then what, precisely, are the side effects? This area – between delight and discomfort – is where Black Mirror, my new drama series, is set. The ‘black mirror’ of the title is the one you’ll find on every wall, on every desk, in the palm of every hand: the cold, shiny screen of a TV, a monitor, a smartphone.”

(source: Charlie Brooker: the dark side of our gadget addiction)

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After Last Night

I don’t really remember you, or the rest of your story.
I don’t know your name, nor the direction you’re headed on the way home.
After last night,
I might waste myself on the couch again through the weekend.
Not getting excited about the idea of Monday.
I don’t really remember you, but what is this feeling of longing.
Distracting and bothering.
(I thought,)
I don’t really remember you.

Late Night Radio Broadcast #4

Under this rain, I want to comfort you tonight.

I can’t give you a hug, nor a warm blanket and a box of tissue.
But I’m trying, with these voices within this wavelength.
Would you let me come through?
To your pain and the headache.
To your tears and the heartache.

Tonight I want to ask you.
Are we enough for ourselves?
Or we need others to prove our validity and value?
We might not find the answer right now, but let’s find the strength to search it.
In our daily life, between our blank stares to the sky and the sea of people.

Here comes the last song,
the rhythm of peace and forgiveness.
To ourselves.
(I always want to say this to myself.)
Let’s not sacrifice today’s happiness for distant tomorrow.

PS: More of Late Night Radio Broadcast series can be found here.