Saturday 15 August 2015

Hello Narcissus - Narcissus of the 21st century

Hello narcissus,
Do you see yourself in the pool,
Is the internet fast enough?
Is your mind dulled like a cesspool?
Can you still speak off the cuff?

Hello narcissus,
Can your mind still distil?
Or is it another thread of useless information?
‘Don’t think, just swallow that happy pill’,
The shallow proclamation of this generation.

Hello narcissus,
Are you still a person or an apparition?
Someone words ideas to fill your shelf?
Look at the aqua reflection,
And do a good impression of yourself.







/* So I’ve been reading  Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis, the basis of Fear of a Blank Planet. And I have to say there is just way too much narcissism in this internet generation of ours. We know longer try to be ourselves , we just do good impressions of our virtual lives ( a recurring motif in Lunar Park). So I wondered what would Narcissus do today, and I figured his pool would be this online world of today. I hope our generation is wiser than Narcissus. 
Granted the internet has done so much good ( like bringing you this poem :P) , but on the whole think about the implications on social skills and language. Everything has to  be condensed into 124 characters and selfies are the new self portrait. I think somewhere art has been lost in the process.
Read this while listening to Fear of a Blank Planet. */ 

50 comments:

  1. Indeed there is a lot of narcissism involved in this generation where everyone is out to beat the other in terms of looks and popularity. Well penned!

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  2. Of course, great point, but maybe it just reflects the need to be connected given the gradual breakdown of the social fabric in most communities.

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  3. I agree with you.
    Self-love is a good thing but self-obsession or narcissism is terrible. A great poem on this subject :)

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  4. Narcissus would certainly be hogging Facebook...and I would unfriend him for sure.

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  5. What a very good metaphor for modern man.

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  6. sometimes you wonder about the priorities of todays' society.

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  7. I think Narcissus is alive and well...ha, even in the blogosphere...if one thinks about it.

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  8. Narcissus sounds like the essence of facebook and Instagram... I think he has multiplied to such large part of the population.

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    1. i think its a perversion of what Rousseau calls amoure propre

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  9. Narcissus reminds me of the selfie-walas...a good point made...

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    1. i think instead of looking in a pool, narcissus would be taking selfies today

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  10. he is all around especially in the social media - i have blocked him already haha :)

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  11. Well where will this self obsession leave us?I deep guess just deep down the pool.........................

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  12. "do a good impression of yourself" is so telling in this internet age.....great observations here on the modern Narcissus!

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  13. Ha. You have it just right on the narcissism in the internet age.
    You dont have to look far to see it either. We have become a community
    consumed with ourselves, barely having time for others.

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  14. You hit it right in the nail ~ Good one ~

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  15. This really resonates with me, as the other day I jotted down a note about the Age of the Selfie, intending to write about it. I still may. We live in a narcissistic age, for sure.

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    1. The age of reason has given way to the age of the selfie

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    2. The age of reason has given way to the age of the selfie

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  16. This is quite interesting and thought provoking

    Much love...

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  17. Simple manifestation of self love, the ongoing selfie images making the rounds!

    Hank

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  18. suddenly, the internet brings out the narcissus in most of us. :)
    great observation.

    and thanks for sharing the video.

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  19. I do agree, Narcissus would definitely be a constant stream of selfies as many others seem to be,

    Elizabeth

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  20. I agree and it is scary although the poem was very good.

    Thanks for your kind comment.

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  21. A powerful articulation of the egocentric personality that one sees more and more of in the 21st century. The absence of thoughtful introspective that is evident in popular culture is truly scary/awful! An awesome write.

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    1. exactly, there is a scary and alarming absence of introspection

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  22. Yes the old tales of caution might need some updating. Great poem.

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  23. Hahaha well written and charmingly sarcastic. :-)
    ZQ

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    1. ha thanks , that was the tone i was going for

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  24. very cool! sometimes, i think everything on the other side of the screen is no longer a reflection, but an apparation.... and when i'm not in the screen (but those around me are), i feel like i'm walking in a haunted graveyard. loved your poem! really got me thinking.

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    1. now those were some very appropriate metaphors

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  25. I love the letter structure addressed to narcissus .. and the mirror image always there if we can look at ourselves.

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    1. thanks , i wanted to do something different in form

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  26. Wow, this poem says so much about the 21st century, our values, the tendency of people to concern themselves with creating memes instead of memories! Narcissus indeed. the only real surfing I do is on these blogs, so I hope I don't fit that bill... great work. Amy

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    1. creating memes instead of memories.... poignant

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  27. Look at me
    Look at me
    I 'm a daffodillee
    LOL

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  28. Narcissists aren't the only problem with our society but they think they are. Lol! Good job!

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  29. Great poem! We are becoming self involved web clones....well, not everyone. :)

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  30. I agree and you penned this perfectly!

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  31. Interesting! No fan of Ellis, but a fan of your reflection here, for sure. ;)

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    1. ha i guess he;s not for everyone and thank you :)

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  32. This post is so relevant to this day and age unfortunately. There is so much narcissism and need of acceptance all over the internet. I hope that fades away and we can all live for ourselves :)

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