Hope in the Face of Impossibility
By Alex Cortez
It is easy to feel hopeless in the world today. I know for me I have seen headlines that fill me with dread and a sense of great fear and sadness. I know I am not alone in this, regardless of the views of the individual tragedy always seems a constant in the world today. Making this problem worse is the division we see in the United States with political lines in the sand as well as more and more aggression and hatred seen. I cannot blame anyone for feeling hopeless or that nothing they do matters, and I find ways of coping by distracting myself.
Image Source: Lukas Rychvalsky (Unsplash)
What really helps me however is not being alone, that others stand by me as I stand by them. In the face of such overwhelming dread what other path is there but simply being there for one another? For me, this realization was made into words by the YouTube indie animation series, The Amazing Digital Circus.
To those who have never seen this show, it is not meant for kids, more an animation for at the youngest mature teens and adults that has a multitude of themes and ideas that appeal to everyone. For those who have seen this then you would certainly know the horror aspect of it, and likely have found yourself in one of the characters. The premise of the show is in the setting of a, well, Digital Circus. The characters save the ringmaster Caine were once people in the real world before somehow having their mind transported to this Digital World, each having a body that correlates to their personality and their issues. While having an ensemble cast our main character is the circus’s latest resident Pomni, who finds herself in this world not able to escape, and meeting the other characters who have been to the circus for a long time, some for years.
I dare not spoil the majority of the show, but I will give light spoilers so consider this your warning. I also acknowledge at the time of writing the show is yet to release it’s final episode, I hope this article and the themes I believe the show holds will not become entirely wrong or betrayed.
Image Source: The Amazing Digital Circus
With that said, let us examine the characters of the show. The characters each have a focus with details being revealed about the past they can remember, and why they have the bodies that they do. One character’s face is two masks, a comedy mask that hides their sad mask, a clear allegory for depression and masking it, as well as possible bipolar disorder. The overall focus however is facing and surviving hopelessness and despair. In this world while they go on adventures, they don’t in an essence matter, they are trapped in this digital realm denied their real lives and all those in life, and in such a situation how would you react? If nothing around you is real, why does anything matter? Certainly a nihilistic setting to explore, one of the characters taking that to the extreme by treating everyone awfully and acting like nothing matters in large part a coping mechanism to continue on each day. However while the show delves into those themes of Nihilism, it also rejects them by its themes of unity and bonds. The way to survive and perhaps live is in being there for each other, giving grace even when it may not be earned, not forgiving but letting go. That in this despair and meaninglessness, the most you can do for each other in this prison is be there for one another and make sure that if anyone falls in despair, you will be there for them as they would for you, that no matter what who you are or the mistakes you made, that you can still find that hope and warmness we all seek.
Image Source: Marc-Olivier Jodoin (Unsplash)
There are two quotes from the character of Kinger in the third episode that truly solidifies this idea and theme for me: “I know how it can feel.. in this.... circus. Sometimes it all just feels... pointless…but it's not. Not if you have people who care about you. Good memories can do a lot. Hold onto them... and cherish the people around you. You never know when they'll be gone. In this world, the worst thing you can do is... make someone think they're not wanted or loved." This first quote resonates to me as in our real world so often apathy is practiced and normalized, that it makes it easier to feel alone. This to me screams the idea that even in despair you can still find a light in the darkness.
This other quote I found very personally important to me and as well this theme, “Do you hate yourself? I hated myself. I couldn't help but hate myself for the things I thought I was responsible for. I thought I'd lost everything. But then... you showed up. And my outlook just... changed. There are always ways to show you care without ruining it for yourself over it. You need to look out for yourself in all this, too…Giving someone space isn't the same thing as giving up on them” I think it is important to stand with others, but not by neglecting yourself or forcing upon others either. A community is strong because people chose to be together, never by force. In this world of apathy, the strongest we can ever be is to be willing to be there for others, and be brave enough to let them in as well. This show, for all it’s themes of horror and helplessness also provides that strength of hope and community. In the face of the unachievable, what else can we hold to but each other?
