The Spiritual Significance of Overload Boredom

The spiritual crisis of the twenty-first century is overload boredom, and the book "The Spiritual Significance of Overload Boredom" offers an alternative to withdrawal and resistance: kēdia, an ethic of care. It explores the ways the digital age has reconfigured our interior lives and engages the world of art, literature, and comedy for unexpected case studies. The author shows that the opposite of boredom is not interest but meaning, and we can make it by curating the overload.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 15 August 2022
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

The twenty-first century is experiencing a profound spiritual crisis characterized by an overwhelming sense of boredom. The sheer abundance of information, content, and stimulation available to us has reached unprecedented levels, yet none of it eagerly awaits passive consumption. The demands placed upon us far exceed our capabilities, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and disoriented.

In response to this crisis, author Sharday Mosurinjohn proposes a novel approach: kēdia, an ethic of care. Rather than viewing the world of information as an external entity, Mosurinjohn invites us to explore its sensational and emotional aspects. By focusing on how the digital age has fundamentally transformed our inner lives, she offers a fresh perspective on the seemingly mundane experiences of overload boredom, such as texting, browsing social media, and engaging in information work.

Through an innovative method of affective aesthetic speculation, Mosurinjohn conducts a series of surprising case studies that shed light on the strange and familiar aspects of overload boredom. She examines how these activities shape our emotional experiences, relationships, and sense of self. What emerges is a profound understanding of the ways in which the digital age has reconfigured our very being, challenging our assumptions about what it means to be human in the modern world.

One of the key insights of The Spiritual Significance of Overload Boredom is that the opposite of boredom is not interest but meaning. Mosurinjohn argues that we can only find true fulfillment and purpose by curating the overload. By becoming more mindful of our consumption habits, seeking out meaningful connections, and engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment, we can cultivate a sense of meaning that transcends the superficiality of the digital age.

The book is a bold and original intervention in the ongoing discourse surrounding technological modernity and its discontents. It challenges the dominant narratives that frame our relationship with technology as a source of anxiety and alienation. Instead, Mosurinjohn offers a vision of technology as a tool for connection, creativity, and personal growth.

Through her thoughtful and provocative analysis, Mosurinjohn provides us with a roadmap for navigating the spiritual crisis of the twenty-first century. She encourages us to embrace the abundance of information and stimulation available to us, but also to be mindful of its impact on our well-being. By cultivating a sense of kēdia, an ethic of care, we can find meaning and fulfillment in the midst of the chaos and confusion of the digital age.

In conclusion, The Spiritual Significance of Overload Boredom is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the profound spiritual challenges of the twenty-first century. By offering a fresh perspective on the seemingly mundane experiences of overload boredom, Mosurinjohn provides us with a path toward greater fulfillment and purpose. Through her innovative approach to affective aesthetic speculation and her bold and original intervention, she offers us a way forward in a world that seems increasingly uncertain and fragmented.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228011538