The Case For (and Against) Escapism
Why so-called Escapism is a blessing (and a hazard) to modern society.
Escapism (n.): the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy.
The buzzing noise of metro stations, the rushing cars on six-lane highways, and the droning sound of gossip and rumors are all things we long to escape. Though evolved to thrive in social contact, the human brain is incapable of managing the overwhelming stimuli hovering around it.
It is indeed: a sensory abomination, a wholesale decimation, a collateral prostration. The cacophony of consumerist stimuli in the morning on the bus-drive to school are not particularly nurturing of a healthy mindset. Consumerist stimuli = Consumerist thought. Thus, I ask, who is it that profits from the ever-deteriorating state of our minds? Who is it that gains from the dearth of creativity and ingenuity? Who is it that smiles upon herds of obedient and submissive consumers?
I digress…
According to author and sociologist Michael St. Claire, we, humans, are “encompassed in a cocoon of information in the form of image and sound” amidst what he calls a “stimulus glut”, or data excess. And I seem to agree with this hypothesis. On the basis of this “stimulus glut,” I forward a new argument: escapism, in its varying forms, is a valid treatment to salve the migraines of over-stimulation.
What is escapism exactly?
Sociologically speaking, escapism is a vital asset to society that ensures stability and continuity of humans in a highly saturated social environment. Still, very debatable, very controversial.
Defining escapism and its effects on society is a difficult task and often raises more questions than it answers. Does escapism perpetuate the current state of globalized society? or does it provide a valuable reprieve to exhausted workers in a post-capitalist world?
Well… both.
Escapism at its very core is an anti-confrontational activity: it denounces confrontation and instead focuses on inner ruminations or blithe distractions. Generally, people who engage in Escapist activities wish to distance themselves from social, financial, or personal worries. Therefore, this has little to do with social inertia as some seem to argue. Every once in a while, it is normal for a person to withdraw into leisure activities and dreamy fantasies, and it has no effect whatsoever on his/her involvement in social life. No, escapism is not existentialism, and it does not lead to it.
In my opinion, Escapism does wonders in providing respite, however brief, to the toiling labor force. If everyone is put through constant pressure to perform their respective social roles with no reprieve at all, society collapses. Take for example an artistic craft such as painting or even a scientific discipline such as astrophysics; it is said that some of the greatest minds abided by rather “dull” and “humble” routines. Albert Einstein was a man who famously adored the simpler pleasures of life such as fried eggs drizzled with honey for breakfast.
“I am not genius. I am just curious.” — Albert Einstein
Did Einstein’s unremarkable daily routine make him any less curious or inquisitive? No, it did not. If anything, this goes to show that even the brightest minds deserve to occasionally enjoy the simple things in life… like fried eggs with honey… however strange it might be.
Einstein had to escape from the constant pressure of being a leading scientist whose work is admired worldwide, but what do we need to escape from?
What to Escape FROM
Escapism is akin to collecting all your worries and fears to lock them away in a box for a brief period of time. Although this might be beneficial in giving you a healthy space for introspection and contemplation, it can also act as a toxic barrier to tackling issues that cripple your social life.
This brings us to the question of what do we — or should we — escape from as humans?
The answer to that question is far from simple. It is incorrect to say that escaping from major decisions is worse than escaping from minor inconveniences — and vice versa. Many a crisis has been averted by studied and rational actions instead of rash immediate responses; however, immediate action has saved thousands of lives before in times where the luxury of time was not present.
So what’s the verdict?
Simply, as long as Escapism does not encroach on life-or-death decisions, it is never too harmful to take a breather, and listen to the chirping of birds for 10 minutes in the morning.
You don’t do that though, do you? Listening to birds chirping… that’s old people stuff, am I right?
Thus far, I’ve refrained from defining what exactly I am referring to as “Escapist Activities.” Commonly, when people talk of escape they mean scrolling through TikTok or its YouTube and Instagram equivalents. Or maybe, they escape through binge-watching the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What to Escape TO
Do not, and I mean: DO NOT. Fold in social media and Netflix into the umbrella of Escapism. I hold no monopoly on the term, but in my opinion, social media and TV are far from Escapist activities but rather flagship “Supernormal Sign Stimuli.” This term was coined by Niko Tinbergen in his 1951 work “The Study of Instinct.”
These stimuli, also known as Superstimuli, are widely credited for the desensitization of dopamine receptors responsible for motivation and pleasure. In this vein, some scientists such as Cameron Sepah, PhD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have advocated for “dopamine fasting,” where individuals refrain from participating in Supernormally Stimulating activities for extended periods of time. According to Dr. Sepah, this practice “allows our brain to recover and restore itself.”
On the other hand, some researchers have been skeptic about this newfound practice. Taking a break from Supernormally Stimulating activities “will stop turning on the dopamine system over and over like everyday life does, but it isn’t going to reset it,” according to Kent Berridge, PhD, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Michigan.
I am no scientist to say which side is in the right; however, I think it would be wise to limit these overstimulating activities to avoid desensitization and the subsequent drop in motivation.
Some Superstimuli to avoid during your free-time include: TV, social media, video games, and others. I do not advocate for the complete cessation of these activities, but they ought not to be treated as fillers for valuable downtime that can be utilized much more effectively.
To more efficiently spend this time, do include things like exercising frequently, reading a book, playing some music, or maybe even trying tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) such as Dungeons & Dragons. These “mundane” activities and others do not increase stress or anxiety and instead provide the true “Escape” this article has been searching for.
Conclusion
As a conclusion, I maintain that the continuous over-stimulation of man is valid reason to look into solutions such as escapism in its plurality of forms. Though the next time you find yourself reaching for your phone, think of the harrowing meaninglessness of the content you consume for hours on end. Think of how it has alienated you from friends and family. If it has, then engage and connect with the people around you. Or, ruminate and reflect on what interests you and fascinates you.
That is the essence of Escapism. Though you ought to escape from the buzz of the metro, the cars at rush-hour, and the gossip at work: always seek valuable destinations for your escapes, or at least, destinations that do not destroy you.
As the critically acclaimed author Terry Pratchett once said:
“Escapism isn’t good or bad in itself. What is important is what you are escaping and where you are escaping to.”
— Terry Pratchett.
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