The
human experience is to an ever
increasing extent, being mediated by various information technologies.
The last 500 years of human history has been defined by breakthroughs in
media. The printing press, the telephone, motion pictures, television,
the internet, cell phones and most recently social media have all “come
between” humans
and their desired data. These information platforms deliver our
“content” with ever increasing immediacy. As this content is now
instantly made available, attention turns to those in control of modern
media.
The media, communications and advertising industries alike are
suspect in that they dictate the content being delivered to the public.
Media moguls control the content but are in turn influenced by
advertising agencies that, along with their clients, bankroll the media
industry. Although each company or agency controls their individual
output, it is the collective output that is significant, as advertising
is dependant upon mass appeal. To be effective, it must be popular. In the words of Marshall
McLuhan... the
medium is the message… a medium itself, not the
content it carries, becomes the focus of study.
Close examination of the combined collective output
of modern media tells us much about our global citizenry. It reveals
trends in how we think, feel and react to events of consequence in our
world. Indeed, it illuminates collective characteristics of our
consensual reality… our collective
consciousness.
In this regard, popularity of media output becomes an indicator of
what resonates, what "grabs the attention" of specific populations. Realization of these trends allow us to sharpen our predictive
faculties in contemplating the future. By examining trends in the media
for purposes of prediction, we logically place emphasis on a popular or
“Pop
Future.”
The prime directive of
Tek-Gnostics "Pop Future" data stream is to provide analysis of and
commentary on cause and effect trends of twenty-first century earth. It
allows the discerning domesticated primate to gracefully navigate living
on the planet of the apes. We
will examine all available
data for
the purpose of predicting possible,
probable and prescriptive outcomes to present day scenarios. We will
examine the complex intertwining advancements and expectations in the
hard sciences such as astronomy, physics & biology, as well as
other disciplines of relevance such as, psychology, sociology and
anthropology ... through the lens of a new and relatively esoteric
interdisciplinary system known as synchromysticism.
The term
Synchromysticism was coined by Jake Kotze in August of 2006 for an
article posted on his website
Brave New World Order, who defined it as:
“The art of realizing
meaningful coincidence in the seemingly mundane with mystical or
esoteric significance.”
Synchromysticism is heavily
influenced by the study of the collective unconscious as pioneered by
Dr. Carl Jung. Jung was the founder of analytical psychology.
He emphasized understanding the psyche through exploring the worlds of
dreams, art, mythology, religion and philosophy. One of his most notable
ideas is the concept of synchronicity.
Jung
created the term synchronicity to describe the alignment of "universal
forces" with the life experiences of an individual. Jung believed that
many experiences perceived as coincidences were not merely due to
chance, but instead reflected the creation of an event or circumstance
by the alignment of such forces. Among these forces, consideration is
given to the power of mass media and its influence on humanity’s psyche.
Of special interest is media as entertainment, in that it is often
overlooked as being influential in shaping humanity’s worldview.
In the pursuit of utilizing this system, Tek-Gnostics will attempt to
illuminate our near future by providing gateways to various resources on
the world wide web. Understanding the role of media, as well as
acknowledging our own utilization of it is an important element in this
undertaking. A return to self reliance and self verification is the tool
of the Tek-Gnostic. Critical thinking is the Tek-Gnostic's ally.
Caution is recommended... for we
live in dangerous times...
Question authority and
think for yourself...
