Lights ON
People flood into the large hall.
Each moves quickly to their desks.
Machines start, stutter, splutter and spit out soft objects.
Workers collect various types of objects and assemble.
Soft teddy bears exit the hall.
Lights OFF
Machines stop. People leave.
Lights ON
People flood into the open plan room.
Each moves to their desks.
Machines whizz, beep and blink into action.
Workers type and click away at keyboards.
Documents are printed out.
Lights OFF
People leave. Computers show screen savers.
Lights ON
People flood into the central station.
Each moves to their designated area.
Large machines arrive, open their mouths and bowels.
Workers enter the machines.
Machines exit the halls with people.
Lights OFF
The information board waits for updates.
Lights ON
They walk into their houses.
They walk over to their favourite sitting area.
The television is turned on.
They are joined by their children and teddy bears.
A light bulb bursts.
Lights OFF
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Planned obsolescence
Over a hundred years ago, a light bulb was invented that would last forever. An example still shines one hundred years later in an American fire-station. As the consumerist economy developed, manufacturers soon realised that they could make more money with an inferior product and, after forming cartels with ‘competitors’, shifted their advertising strategy towards focussing on novelties, fashions and fads – even for fundamental goods such as light bulbs.
The long lasting light bulb was quickly discontinued.
Since then, countless computers, printers, cars, clothes, toys, phones and even chairs have been built and sold with limited life spans, design flaws or inbuilt kill switches. But who can complain? – We need to keep all those jobs, don’t we!
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Piece inspired by “Abandonned City” by Hauschka, in turn inspired by the city of Agdam – a ghost town in Azerbaijan.
Documentary worth wattching: Planned Obsolescence (YouTube)