By: Daiyu Tang
Ever have one of those moments where something lands in your inbox, you glance at it, think ‘meh,‘ and quietly consign it to the ‘might look at this later’ pile? A new show recommendation. A marketing email promising discounts you don’t yet care enough to browse.
The Hathian Observer had its own version of that moment when we received a letter speaking ominously of things ‘moving,’ of ‘flames burning’, and of a coming revelation once a ‘spark ignites.’ Followed by a ‘Big Reveal’ of course!
So let me just outline just a few thoughts before I get into anything further.
This group didn’t expect to be told, publicly, ‘This is vibes, not substance.’ They wanted fear, fascination and mystique and instead got me reading their submission.
Perhaps if the Observer were staffed entirely by juniors who still gasp at spooky stationery, they’d have received the reaction they were hoping for. But I’ve had the Rejects dump the skinned and flayed head of a rival gang member on my desk. I’ve had an HPD officer urinate in my office to make a point about territorial power. I’ve seen things.
If this letter was meant to be the Blade Runner moment, ‘tears in the rain‘ for Hathian, it failed. Hathian has seen a lot and will see a lot more for a long time, new group or not.
A Follow-Up Not(e) Arriving Alone
Did I expect my article to generate an immediate response? Not really. Do I care for drama between the unknown and my time? No. I guess they understood that and included two photos in their next letter (along with more dramatic prose – which fell flat).
These photos. Two women. One restrained in a bath tub, one bleeding on the pier. Distressed. Very real. One of them is known to me. The other is not, but she is not anonymous. Her image exists in public spaces on social media.
By sending these images, the author(s), or ‘Nocturne’ appear to believe they have answered the question we posed (which in essence was ‘who are you bruv?‘. They have not demonstrated influence however. They have demonstrated harm. Originally I thought, maybe they did this – here’s a claim to power. But then I just had to move through socials and I’m really confused whether they are demonstrating harm to these individuals, or wanting to know more about it.
You can if you wish trace some of this to Social Media HERE OR HERE – (And yes our letter authors, who signed their letter this time have a social media account as well.)
This paper will not speculate for effect, nor will it perform fear on demand. What follows will not be written in metaphor, nor will it be shaped to flatter anyone’s sense of drama. Some sparks do ignite fires.
Others simply illuminate what was already there and you need a big spark to illuminate Hathian or fire the imagination of my Poe loving brain.
“The city does not move to impress the Observer” – They said; Nocturne is right. It doesn’t. It moves anyway. A fact that all can think about for a moment.
