Even More Complicated Than an Onion

In my last post, I analyzed Part I of Open Sky by Paul Virilio, and stated that I felt it presented a viewpoint that was very layered and complicated.  I used the example of an onion, using it as an analogy for the necessity of peeling information back, layer by layer.

Part II of Open Sky by Paul Virilio was no different.  On a positive note, it was less confusing to me than the first section of the work.  However, similarly to Part I, the author still seemed to present a somewhat complicated viewpoint of concepts that in my opinion, are not very complicated.

For example, take the concept of travel.

People all over the world travel every day.  People travel for business.  They travel for pleasure.  They travel on vacation with their families – spouses, significant others, children, parents.  They travel for volunteer work, like missions trips and medical assistance.  They travel to promote ideas.  They travel to participate in social movements.  They travel to create peace treaties.

While there are aspects of travel that can be considered complicated (like, who one is traveling with or where one is going, or how one is arriving at his or her destination), to overall concept of traveling is very simple.

You are here.  You are going to go somewhere else.

It is not too much more complicated than that.  Yes, there are decisions to be made, and there are probably going to be a few speed bumps in the process, but overall, you will probably reach your destination no worse for where, complete whatever your business is or your travel itinerary includes, and then go about returning to your home.

Virilio takes the essentially simple concept of travel, and complicates it, throwing in terms like “acceleration” and “real time barrier.”  I appreciate his comments on the effect of travel on global interaction and communication, but I can’t help but feel that he makes concepts much more complicated than they have to be.

What is your perspective on Virilio?  Do you appreciate his work?  Do you enjoy reading it?  Does reading his work come easily to you?  If not, why not?  Is there anything that would make it easier for you?