I don’t play video games much, but the release and fanfare over “Skyrim” makes me wonder about the role of escapism in modern society. Really, almost all forms of entertainment exist to satisfy a desire to leave the present state and envision, even just for a few moments, a world teeming with mystery, excitement and intrigue.
Although everyone aspires for different things (mansions, women, dragon-slaying), ultimately they all boil down to one concept: intrigue. We all want to matter, we all want to be interesting. Nobody wants to play a supporting role in a movie about their own life.
Countless pop songs portray a life of riches, a heart-broken confession, or a wild night in the club. After all is said and done, they’re all the same as the power metal epics about fighting an evil sorcerer or restoring peace to some fantasy land. These songs place the listener in a new world, where they have some grand importance placed upon them and their deeds. They do things that other people want to hear about.
Although we can’t all be astounding figures, the right song helps us become those fantastic characters in our own heads. We become the people we read about, the heroes whose deeds line myths and storybooks. We cease to be ourselves, and become the people we always wanted to be.
