Whether it’s succumbing to grief and seeking revenge for a loved one, reclaiming your humanity in a journey to spread your wife’s ashes with your son, or discovering what it means to be human as artificial intelligence, video games can produce authentic and powerful emotions through stories we would otherwise be unable to live.
At its core, this shift isn’t about literature — it’s about looking like a reader. Books have become an accessory, a personality trait and a status symbol. As a result, people are reading more visibly than ever. The joy of getting lost in a story, of struggling with complex ideas and of truly reading seems to be fading.
Falling out of love sucks, and no, I don’t mean with a significant other or a friend. I’m talking about falling out of love with celebrities you once worshiped. Throughout the past year or so, the facade surrounding some of my favorite singers and celebrities has fallen, which caused me to re-examine the way that I interact with the music and media that I consume.
