i love the…. almost horror aspects of this album. all the references to ghosts and death…. and sonically, the unexpected shrieking in WAOLOM and the banging and screaming during “old habits die screaming” and even the way the tension subtly builds across the sixteen tracks and by the end you’re so stressed and shaken it’s like! losing your sense of self and feeling like you’ve become a monster is horror. and i’m sooooo glad she leaned into it
i think not only has social media eroded ideas of privacy (”if you have nothing to hide why do you care?”), but in a much more harmful way it promotes the notion that there should be no difference between public thoughts and private behaviour. But this is totally bogus because people behave differently according to different situations. This isn’t being “fake”; it’s just being proficient at navigating social situations.
The way I behave with my friends and my family, the way I behave in private, is not for public consumption. Nor should it be. Publicness is a matter of choice, it shouldn’t be mandatory. People are not entitled to anyone’s private thoughts on anything. People have a right to decide what they wish to show in public and what they wish to hide from public view and consumption.
This separation is vital not only for people as social beings, but for their mental well-being as well. There’s literally no upside to feeling that your self is constantly out there for everyone to see and dissect.
"Well, I think underneath that nice suit and that charming smile you are still a very homely little boy."
"'Homely' little boy? I was an adorable little boy, and when I get those pictures developed, your world will be rocked, Miss David."
"Well, I'm looking forward to it."