The intersection between spoken word, poetry and music was initially explored in the Speaking the Music series of posts (2023). Following on from that series comes this spoken-word/music chimera Disconnected. It was inspired by the Banksy work ‘Mobile Lovers‘ (2014) and explores the question of how our now ‘always connected’ age makes us connected to the ‘machine’ but, arguably, less connected to each other. Like Banksy’s visual satire we don’t gaze into the eyes. We gaze, instead, at the screen. A term now sometimes used for this dysfunction, for that is what it has become, is ‘technoference‘, i.e.
The interruptions in interpersonal communication caused by attention paid to personal technological devices. (Brandon McDaniel, Illinois State University (2012).
Those wishing to consider the issues in more depth may find the ‘About’ section on page 2 of this post a worthwhile visit but for now enjoy (or be annoyed) by the two complementary productions of Disconnected offered below.
Firstly, I offer the original audio track as a SoundCloud embed. Choose play ‘Listen from Browser’ button below if you haven’t registered for a free SoundCloud account. This version of Disconnected is best enjoyed with good speakers or a decent set of headphones. Playing direct from a phone or tablet speaker just degrades the experience and intention.
Secondly, making use of the same soundtrack I offer a YouTube video presented somewhat in the style of a Ken Burns documentary. Ken Burns uses a lot of zooms and pans of historical photographs and documents to illustrate a narrative. Again, this video version of Disconnected is best enjoyed with good speakers or a decent set of headphones. Playing direct from a phone or tablet speaker just degrades the experience and intention. Note that the video starts in ‘lights down’ mode so ‘do not adjust your set’.
Verse
King and Queen of Distraction
Obsessive need to share
No matter what the action
Shallow souls they always bare.
Must always be connected
No matter what they do
Fear being rejected
This digital savvy new.
Our gods gave us many senses
We're beautifully designed
But behind our techno-fences
We're deaf, dumb, and blind.
King and Queen of Distraction
Now mind and cloud, a pair
This black hole of attraction
Send it messages that they care.
Embrace the illusion of intimacy
Amplify what they feel
Submerged in the internal
Exclude what is real.
Our gods gave us many senses
We're beautifully designed
But behind our techno-fences
We're deaf, dumb, and blind.
King and Queen of Distraction
With no time left to spare
A world of subtraction
Lives lived in the snare.
Trading away their privacy
Minutiae must be shared
Eyes locked to luminous light
No detail must be spared.
Our gods gave us many senses
We're beautifully designed
But behind our techno-fences
We're deaf, dumb, and blind.
King and Queen of Distraction
Obsessive need to share
No matter what the action
Shallow souls they always bare.
King and Queen of Distraction
Now mind and cloud, a pair
This black hole of attraction
Send it messages that they care.
King and Queen of Distraction
With no time left to spare
A world of subtraction
Lives lived in the snare.
Trading away their privacy
Minutiae must be shared
Eyes locked to luminous light
No detail must be spared.
Must always be connected
No matter what they do
Fear being rejected
This digital savvy new.
Embrace the illusion of intimacy
Amplify what they feel
Submerged in the internal
Exclude what is real.
Our gods gave us many senses
We're beautifully designed
But behind our techno-fences
We're deaf, dumb, and blind.
Our gods gave us many senses
We're beautifully designed
But behind our techno-fences
We're deaf, dumb, and blind.
Our gods gave us many senses
We're beautifully designed
But behind our techno-fences
We're deaf, dumb, and blind ...
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Go to page 2 if you are interested in finding out more about disconnection, distraction and technoference. Otherwise thanks for listening or viewing.