I’ve discovered the reason why the thought of becoming a TikTok creator fills me with dread. If you are over the age of 40, I bet that your aversion to TikTok—if you have one—is rooted in the same fetid soil. This angst is something more than the typical antipathy toward social media. It’s caused by none other than the spectre of death itself, whose reflection is clearest in the shiny pointlessness of TikTok.
So we’re all going to die: it’s currently an inescapable fact. In the meantime, we are all, to one degree or another, self-aggrandizing. My husband says we’re each the star of our own show. But unless you are a raving narcissist (met you; don’t think so), you have something to contribute we’ll enjoy. So, eventually, when you get over your reluctance, thank you for sharing, and all that.
Humour, silliness, whimsy, and all their friends, are what we need.
As long as you’re not so vain you’ll write your own obituary.
I mean, my main art output is improv which is about as ephemeral as you can get. But the whole point of improv is that it comes from nothing and returns to nothing. A metaphor for death as well, but one we're all on board with. TikTok feels like a promise of immortality (fame!) wrapped in the most ephemeral of ephemera.
So we’re all going to die: it’s currently an inescapable fact. In the meantime, we are all, to one degree or another, self-aggrandizing. My husband says we’re each the star of our own show. But unless you are a raving narcissist (met you; don’t think so), you have something to contribute we’ll enjoy. So, eventually, when you get over your reluctance, thank you for sharing, and all that.
Humour, silliness, whimsy, and all their friends, are what we need.
As long as you’re not so vain you’ll write your own obituary.
Hmm - this is a strong argument. Any additional humor and silliness in the world is a good thing.
Essential!!
"My problem has always been death." !!! You're killing me (pun and all).
So what's your take on ephemeral art?
(not that TikTok is art per se)
I mean, my main art output is improv which is about as ephemeral as you can get. But the whole point of improv is that it comes from nothing and returns to nothing. A metaphor for death as well, but one we're all on board with. TikTok feels like a promise of immortality (fame!) wrapped in the most ephemeral of ephemera.
touché!
Quite the paradox. Should we seek our 5 minutes 15 seconds at a time?
Until the next app comes along that trims it down to 7 seconds!