In a scan of a website or news, we’re being hooked.
The opening sequence of any story, by definition, works to bring us to attention.
In Hollywood, it’s a desolate desert showing a character stranded by themselves hundreds of miles from civilisation. We put ourselves in their shoes. We lean forward in our seat.
On the internet or TV, it’s the same thing, except now we’re the character, and the words position you in a metaphorical desert, surrounded by danger, of course. OK sure, we’re listening.
It’s easy (and profitable) to hook with a fear of physical or social survival, and so big business and media is largely stuck in the rut.
But as individuals and artists, when we show up, we have a choice.
We can either follow the path of the narrative we’re fed in perpetuity, or we can choose something new.
Culture often changes from the bottom up – so will you hook me with possibility instead?
