Consensual Reality
Consensual Reality, the idea that reality is somehow the aggregate of individual opinions, where we agree we define reality. If an individual goes against the collective agreement they are generally presumed to be either enlightened, or insane/mad. Psychology and Psychiatry implicitly depend upon this model. Where cultures and nations differ in Consensual Reality we often reach "agreement" through such means as war, or cultural imperialism, having triumphed and persuaded our new subjects we've expanded our "Consensual Reality" and use our victory as proof of the validity of our system...
An interesting idea, in that it implies that there is no one objective reality, rather reality is fluid and changing with the agreed perceptions of the viewers.
And, like any conclusion arrived at through mass experience or opinion or perception, it's entirely likely / probably / Certainly even wrong. Consider all the beliefs humanity has had in the past, and consider how few hold up today, we feel free to mock them, deride them, yet in our shared belief system or agreement as to what constitutes reality we are making the exact same errors...
Curious, too, how fluidly we bring others on board our reality - whether it be liquor or drugs, those who don't partake are never part of the shared experience of those who do ... for this they are labelled as "Sticks in the mud" or "Party Poopers", because they are not sharing in the same state of mind. Even when, for example the midst of a coke/ether/LSD binge the shared reality is entirely questionable if not obviously wrong. For those groups not imbibing there exists a very discernible line between the shared reality of one group and the shared reality of another.
And note how well media, news, advertising and corporations shape and define our reality, their perpetually broadcast messages creating hidden agreements and alternate realities that go unquestioned...
A gold mine of thought there. A link to a better explanation of the notion of Consensual Reality below.
Link: Wikipedia - Consensual Reality
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Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World
...Still, always something new to look forward to. Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World might just be the redemption, Werner Herzog's investigation of technology and the connected world.
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"Beautiful. Do you love it?"...
I share his optimism...
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Anomalisa
And finally saw this, much anticipated, even more disappointed.
Not that it was bad, it was slow, yes, the theme of disconnect was well achieved through the use of the same voice for all characters, the confusion between the internal/external, monologue, dialogue, the themes of alienation, inability to connect in a meaningful way certainly resonated. And Kaufman, nothing he does is less than great or brilliant, but really, I just needed a happier film...
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Rodding Hood
On yet another slow evening, after a tedious shift that lasted much too long, I find on the floor of the coat check a small gold bracelet. Hearts, inset with diamonds, a pricey little bauble, I have an idea who it belongs to, the drunken last table, they'll be back for it...
Tuck it in a drawer, think nothing of it, the next day they pick it up.
A*****, he tells the nephew about it. And his face drops, he can't believe I returned it, he's frothing at the mouth, spitting, he coins a new nickname for me:
"Rodding Hood - Steals from the poor and gives to the rich..."
He's strongly of the mind that it's finders-keepers. That we could all have denied finding it, she could have lost it anywhere, we could have all pawned it and split the money, and for the rest of the week I'm treated to absurd sketches of how we should all band together to give our tips to our richest of customers, help them to buy better luxury cars, newer model Ferrari's and Lamborghini's, "Mother Teresa...Santo Dio..."
I argue from moral absolutes, it's the right thing to do, he'd have done the same I'm sure, but the continued comedy has begun to have me doubting...
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