I think about Beaudrillard’s words often as I train for the Brooklyn half marathon. Did he have a personal beef with a jogger? And what would he think if he was on tech twitter reading think pieces our greatest minds write about their very unique hobby?
Atomized individuals over brimming with energy. Energy that is not ebing directed (or cannot be directed?) and which is being expended for the sake of expending it. Not to produce. Not to demonstrate athletic achievement. Not even for pure fun. Because there is a sense of discipline and self-sacrifice.
Purge it. Purge yourself. Feel the burn. Martyr yourself. Is running a good analogy of (and perhaps a symptom of) a culture or rather a certain demographic of society bursting with excess energy but no idea what to do with themselves? I think it is. Did Beaudrillard go overboard as if his wife cheated on him with a jogger? Also, yes.
Running is for the spiritually lost. So is picking up heavy weights and putting them down repetitively.