The Beauty Of Goosebumps
I can watch a child cheer after opening a Christmas present. I can watch a man get brutally knocked out in front of a roaring crowd. I can watch a man struggle to hold in tears. I can watch a man decide this life is not enough.
All goosebumps.
How big of an emotional scope does the goosebump possess? To represent heartache and jubilation with the same physical reaction. Mental.
Truthfully, to me anyway, goosebumps feel the same in every context. But why? With a smile or a frown, my eyes water. (aw shit, I forgot you get goosebumps from just being cold as well, let’s ignore that). So what is it that gives me goosebumps? Aha! It must be the audience. Unanimous organic noise. The child celebrates whilst the parents unite their pride. The crowd instantaneously erupt as the head kick connects or as the guitar strum tells the audience, ‘you know this song, you love this. It’s the collective knowledge that we are all in the know, that what we’ve just heard or seen is excellent. A makeshift family in harmony.
Naturality is still vital, however. A feeling so profound it jilts your consciousness. Authentic reactionary emotion? I think that’s it.
Why does sad shit give me goosebumps, though? Perhaps, it is for the same reasons. We’ve all broken down at some point, are goosebumps just relatability? Firstly, you sympathise with them. Oh, how awful that they feel this way etc. etc. etc. blah blah blah. Secondly, their misery is a reminder that misery is possible and you’re not immune. The despair left dormant inside of you suddenly shows signs of life; never will it be extinct. For a moment, you share the pain- a harmonised tragedy.
Raw relatability is beautiful. Not jubilating or heartbreaking (fucking call back right there) but a reminder of what life can be.
Life can be this good, but it’s not, life can be this bad, but it’s not. Life can be this good, and it will be? Yea, that’s the thought process I SHOULD have. Maybe one day.
Goosebumps, to me, are very similar to nostalgia (which I’ll write about soon because nostalgia fucks me up). Fleeting happiness or melancholy.
Don’t have a conclusion for you because there isn’t one. I will, however, link some videos that give me goooooosebumps. As usual, share if you like my stuff and or send me a message to discuss.
Cheers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=883HE81uJc0&ab_channel=ObscureClips Clip from the Big Short where a closed-off man finally discusses his brother’s suicide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0AXjUy1_gY&ab_channel=000Christoph000 the first minute and a half of this live performance of Californication.
Basically, any performance of sound of silence, whether the original or disturbed’s cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cKS6Fy2M_Q&ab_channel=CarlosAlfonsoContreras This is just because I miss Chris Cornell.