Dystopian stories, or at least the ones I've read, focus on access to information. The control of information. 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, Animal Farm, and a bevy of other stories depict a ruling class limiting the lower classes' access to information, while examining contexts like totalitarianism, democratic socialism, censorship, mass production, and social upheaval.

It's easy to see the power one could gain by limiting media and controlling the information it conveys. Information is knowledge, insight, and understanding. Without it, the populace is in stasis—lost and unaware.

Obvious real-world examples of ruling classes controlling information can be found in the East, namely North Korea, China or Russia. In poor, authoritarian, or developing countries, the people may not have the resources to survive, let alone the ability to understand their circumstances compared to the rest of the world. When the populace is ignorant and dependent, those in power can use their status to maintain their status.

But what about the U.S. of A.?

I think we're at an interesting crossroads. We have more access to information than any time in history. But we struggle in terms of the general population’s awareness of key issues. Here’s the thing: I think we have too much information.

Onslaught of information can be a form of control and imposed stasis as well. We’re simply not capable of internalizing and analyzing the amount of information that we’re exposed to. I've grown up with technology, so it's hard to separate myself from it. It’s clear that I have more information at my fingertips today than ever before. But it’s not clear whether that equates to a better quality of life. I find that it’s more difficult to filter out the noise; I find it more difficult to find good, useful information.

Imagine, if you will.

Imagine a field on an overcast night. A dozen trucks, headlights cutting into the dark, drive into the field. They circle, and then, one by one, they aim their headlights at the center of the circle.

A deer (you) flooded in light (media).

At first, the light seems alien to the deer. Then it becomes comforting. Over time, the deer’s world transforms from a boundless wilderness into a small ring of light.

Each time a headlight dies, it is replaced by a void—a door to the wilderness, the past. A way out. As time passes, the deer is less likely to try to escape. This is a different kind of control, an overwhelming of sorts. The deer isn’t handicapped by darkness, but light.

The Point

I believe it's important to enter circles of information and knowledge when they appear. But it's equally important to be able to leave them. The key seems to be striking a balance between silence and noise, input and processing, work and play. It's also valuable to develop taste to determine worth quickly and effectively.

When you find value, stick with the medium, but don't let it consume you. Keep moving, reading, browsing. Empathize with different perspectives. Expand your bounds. Glance at the headlights, and look away. Use what you've learned.

Thumbnail Image by Flickr user Steve A Johnson.