The Charm of Making
Merlin the magician, from John Boorman’s Excalibur, 1980
“Anáil nathrach, ortha bhas betha, do cheol déanta. ”
“Breath of the serpent, spell of life, the song for the maker.” It's an Old Irish incantation spoken by Merlin in the movie Excalibur from 1981. In The movie it's called The Charm of Making. A powerful spell that, when uttered by a powerful wizard, can construct bridges out of mist, and manipulate even nature. It's also the perfect way to describe Bobby Fingers. Youtube comedian, artist, engineer, performer, puzzler, and wizard-like, charming maker who has cast a serious spell on my brain.
I've never written a review about a video, concert, song, or work of art. It's not to say that I haven't seen things that have inspired me. I have experienced amazing things that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I even created a podcast about the experience of confronting transcendent art. But I feel compelled to raise awareness about Bobby Fingers. Not because I want to get him to notice me but because I want to alert people to how we will all confront a dystopian future where the things we thought made us special will be automated and marginalized, and our robot overlords will mock us with their mechanical perfection. This is how we will stay human. Bobby is the light. Bobby is the way. And everything is different now.
I've never written a review about a video, concert, song, or work of art. It's not to say that I haven't seen things that have inspired me. I have experienced amazing things that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I even created a podcast about the experience of confronting transcendent art. But I feel compelled to raise awareness about Bobby Fingers. Not because I want to get him to notice me but because I want to alert people to how we will all confront a dystopian future where the things we thought made us special will be automated and marginalized, and our robot overlords will mock us with their mechanical perfection. This is how we will stay human. Bobby is the light. Bobby is the way. And everything is different now.