Hayao Miyazaki and optimistic nihilism

Yesterday, I found a post i think we're obsessed with aesthetic on the Discovery Feed. It featured quite a few nice quotes. My favourite was this one: It's a real "people die when they are killed" kind of quote. Your first reaction is probably going to be some faint amusement, accompanied by a thought like Well, duh. Thanks, Captain Obvious.1 But aside from the factual layer, it also has a personal, contemplative element. This scene shows one of those moments where you see something that you've seen a thousand times and suddenly feel a deep sense of appreciation. You come from non-existence, and go back into it. The time where you get to experience sunsets or soothing spring rain or beautiful autumn leaves is just a tiny fraction of existence as a whole. From that perspective, even the most commonplace, mundane or tacky things can seem truly beautiful. I think this scene is from the documentary "The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness", which has circulated pretty widely online. I've never…

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