where does one go once one is post-everything? what does a post-mediated culture look like? for example, what is the proper way to appreciate clothing once it has been analyzed as an amalgamation of the various signals we wish to convey about ourselves (wealth, lifestyle, interest or lack of interest in fashion, sex appeal, etc.). Obviously certain clothing will remain more or less desirable or practical even after such an analysis is made, but what is the proper attitude to adopt toward the ridiculousness of us putting on outfits and going about our lives? Laugh and do it anyway? Laugh and remain above the fray, opting out as much as possible? Take it very seriously, as it is such a prominent aspect of human culture that one ignores or neglects it at his or her peril?

we run into these problems again and again as we contemplate not only human matters, but the matter of being human. and I know, "blah blah blah, the wonder of human consciousness," but once you have eliminated god and any other authorities that could impose an external framework for the proper way to act and view ourselves, we are left with a very interesting set of questions. we have these behaviors and customs that we are finally able to see and talk about clearly- they are coping mechanisms for solving the problems that our species faces. we've solved the easy ones. so now we all (or at least enough of us) just get to wear silly hats.