Aesthetics Of Control

Black is an absence of color just as much as darkness is an absence of light.

I used to think black is a very strong color, in that it gives off an aura of mystery, a bit of sophistication and at the same time absorbs all light, energy, attention etc.

Now I think black as a color is just a state of being, a fundamental condition.

Yes, I've read and heard black isn't a color, similar to a shadow.

The logic is that our perception of color arises from the reflection or absorption of specific wavelengths of light. Black objects absorb most visible wavelengths, reflecting very little back to our eyes, hence the sensation of its absence.

Every time I come across such statements, the first thought that comes to mind is what would black light look like as opposed to white light?

Maybe 'black light' is a metaphor for unseen forces or hidden truths that only become apparent through their interaction with something else.

In a certain sense, light can't be black. Black has to pre-exist before light can exist, otherwise there would be nothing for the light to illuminate nor contrast to define its presence.

Deceptive Surfaces

The thing with proxy wars is that they're just smokescreens that hide and distract from the direct involvement and underlying motives of the major powers involved.

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Like black absorbing light, proxy wars absorb attention and resources with the sole purpose of masking the true actors and their agendas.

The 'absence' of direct confrontation creates a deceptive surface, much like a still lake reflecting an image that isn't inherently part of its depths.

You would think that seeing your reflection on a still lake will ground you in your identity and provide a moment of self-awareness.

The fact that you need a reflective surface to see yourself speaks a lot about our dependence on external validation and the environment to define our sense of self.

When the lake isn't still anymore, you stop seeing yourself, and by extension, you forget yourself.

That's what the external world more or less does to our sense of self.

It offers a fleeting, surface-level reflection that disappears when the waters get turbulent, which has become a standard occurrence nowadays.

Perpetual Stalemate

Even puppet masters are puppets in the grand scheme of things, there's nearly an infinite ladder coming down from above.

And a peculiar aspect about this ladder is that each rung believes they have a degree of control, yet they are simultaneously being manipulated by those above them, which creates a chain of influence that extends far beyond our immediate perception.

Puppet masters and their puppets wage proxy wars against other puppet masters and their puppets without either side ever gaining a decisive win.

The conflict persists in perpetual stalemate because resolution was never the true objective.

Meanwhile, the true orchestrators remain largely unknown and unseen, pulling strings through intermediaries and creating layers of deniability that shield them from accountability or scrutiny.

Layers Upon Layers

This is just a snippet of the intricate webs of human interaction.

Perhaps, it may also seem as a fundamental characteristic of the physical world, in the sense that reality itself exists in layers of concealment and revelation.

And what we perceive as fundamental truths could be shadows cast by deeper structures beyond our immediate comprehension.

Besides, how often are we merely seeing reflections on a disturbed surface when we believe we're gaining clarity about our place in these systems of power?

Sometimes, the act of seeking understanding could itself be part of the distortion.


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