The electrical suite of technologies presents a good illustration of the tiered nature of human material reality, especially when that tier is temporarily lost, such as in a power outage that lasts long enough for the effects of deprivation to set in.
Technologies support each other and allow for higher levels of integration and expression. What is widely available and economical to use? What of the human mass that is producing it and rendering it available? The production of electricity itself is coordinated and supported by electrical infrastructures and tools and information technologies.
That loop starts to want to close itself, and the convenience and power and joy that are afforded make one never want to go back. Besides, there are a constellation of powerful interests perpetually pushing to keep those technologies and relations in use and in place.
And one discovers the consequences of that when the base electricity itself is cut off. At that point, one can't hear, or see. Or communicate. Or express oneself. The food begins to spoil. The air begins to revert to what is outside.
Lose it and for a moment there is panic and aggravation, jonesing and that sort of thing, but then one acclimates to a new baseline and finds other ways to fulfill one's needs. All one needs is a full belly and a little warmth and darkness to enjoy the company of one's own thoughts, which grow more vivid and sustained.
But then the lights come back on, and the music starts up again, and oh the joy comes rushing back.
