These days, it’s tough to catch that special day vibe. 🎈 Back when I was a kid, Christmas tunes echoed through every street, and the sound of the New Year’s bell resonated across the city. It was a time of growth, where hard work felt like it could achieve anything. People exchanged gifts and wished each other a happy new year in person. It was all about hands-on experiences. Looking back, it seems unbelievable, but back then, even making music was a physical act, cutting and pasting tape reels by hand. (Can you believe it?)
The rise of copyright awareness played a big role in silencing street music. Street vendors selling records vanished due to copyright issues and media changes, impacting even major record stores. Music no longer bridged the space between people. 🎧 Instead, it stayed close through headphones, focusing more on intricate details than filling spaces. This evolution gave rise to a postmodern era of indie and underground artists producing their own music. But the streets fell silent.
With the economic crisis, society shifted focus from connection and coexistence to survival and independence. Today’s college students prioritize building resumes and studying English over cultural freedom. Mobile platforms directly connect producers and consumers, disrupting middleman businesses and accelerating a contactless era. Now, a few smartphone taps can send New Year wishes or birthday gifts instantly. 📱
While I don’t wish to judge these changes, I can’t help but worry. Establishing a culture means overcoming barriers to general acceptance, which isn’t easy. Transitions, like from pen to brush or horse to steam engine, took decades because people needed time to understand, accept, and adapt. For everyone from the elderly to children to embrace it, an analog process and time are crucial. It’s nature’s way, as cultural evolution mirrors evolution itself. Just as a fig’s flower blooms inside the fruit or a tadpole loses its tail gradually, cultural shifts need time. 🌱
But at some point, tech companies started driving these changes, targeting the most adaptable generations and spreading their frameworks rapidly. Older folks found themselves grappling with Wi-Fi and virtual keyboards, standing before kiosks without visible menus. The term ‘metaverse,’ though still abstract, already feels exhausting. 🌏
Though I’ve been in this field for ages, I often ponder whether these changes are truly necessary for humanity. It’s more about questioning the acceptance process and timing rather than the need itself. Is it right to rush without proper validation and implicit consensus? 🤔
Human life spans have increased a bit, but still fall short of a century. We may wish for immortality, but it’s impossible. Our fate mirrors other life forms on Earth. So, shouldn’t we focus on happiness while alive? Embracing the miracle of birth and the inevitability of demise is humanity’s calling, shared by all living things. Yet, only humans are swayed by systems and frameworks. 🌟
Are you living happily right now?
I’m not saying technology obstructs a happy life, but it does make human connections feel lighter. From this perspective, while mobile platforms value offline connections, the metaverse seems to reset human relationships. No wonder future dystopias dominate novels and films. 👥
Without human connections and warmth nearby, life turns lonelier than imagined. Wouldn’t one friend who shares tears, pats your back, and holds your hand be more fulfilling than a hundred thousand followers clicking ‘like’? 🤝
To kick off the year with ease, I spent New Year’s morning looping Shin Hae-chul’s “Someday, Far Away.” 🎶 Not sure why, but this song brings a sense of calm. Its beautiful lyrics feel like a balm, offering a sense of salvation. In 2022, humanity might just need a little saving. 💫
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