Future tripping about a reality that does not exist, influenced by distorted descriptions of what did, and presently operating with mangled facts is proving to be a real formula for the degeneration of culture. Various combinations of fracture, fury, apathy, disillusionment, forfeit, and demise among people is routine. The formula of failure is advanced whenever the next modern day puppet gives a current events update on the state of the modern world. The depressive nature of our collective being defies the promise of life’s abundance that is inherent with the gift of having life. At what place, through what avenue, and at what source are the counter conditions of unity, calm, interest, faith, engagement, and fulfillment found? It must be at a place beyond the puppet. There’s something that the puppet is obscuring. For better (there’s always room for improvement), or worse (situation critical now in my view) there is no better practice than to look to see past the puppet.
Theater concentrates the real. It concentrates the surreal. The signaling within the myth world of the theater has degrees of purpose and intent. Theatrical space is the metaphor for everywhere. In space is resource. An imminent resource of resources is attention. You’ve got my attention. One automaton puppet after another marionettes scripted lines of a dramatic sequence to a real within the Real. Come to understand that the audience can trust the producer and puppet master only so far. While the fantasy, conjured up in the play, may have a ticklish appeal with seemingly limited risk, the risk of surrendering to the appeal is beyond fantastic. Fantastically the puppeteer may now steer the audience. A romantic trance pulls the audience toward a magnetic pole of the string puller’s desire. The theater as a tool of control now has transcended its place, of higher cultural integrity, with a broader perimeter than it should be allowed. But who’s to say, and when? “Don’t you dare rock my real!!”, clamors the audience as the puppet turns its back. The puppet masters admire the control of the audience which is now also at their finger tips. Like an irresponsible hypnotist, the puppet masters embark on a series of experiments on the audience which proves to be menacing. It’s not a given that the experiments should turn for the dire, but they sure have. Also, there is no story line so dire that from which the audience, or some member of, may not retire. However, the plot line, and development of a modern day marionette drama on this world stage is severe enough that Stanley Milgram would most surely blush. Retiring is, right now, a very strong suggestion.
There’s really only one way to begin to get an idea about the actuality of the setting in which the audience resides. Suspend the belief created by the romance of our play. Sever the tether animating the puppet. Let the puppet fall. Hold steady with an attention beyond the fallen actor. Look beyond the puppet. What’s there? Who’s there?