De-evolution

I remember the disturbed, yet curious feeling that came over me after hearing the 80s band, Devo, for the first time.  Having no idea what these strange dudes were up to, I watched their music video for “Whip It”, and was left even more confused.  I was ten years old.  It wasn’t until years later that I figured out what Devo were up to – beyond their dry, fantastic punk/pop hybrid – they were doing what many great artists do, they were expressing what they saw in the world.  What set them apart was the fact that Devo were marching down a much more unconventional and incendiary path than most pop bands at the time.  They were a “concept band”, and their concept was the de-evolution of the human species.

Devo reserved no hesitation in calling out those who considered the beer-bong the essence and depth of life.  Nicknames like “spuds”, and “blockheads” were dished out freely and easily in Devo’s lyrics.  They would not accept the fact that the people who surrounded them in America were less than inspired, and willing to take on a backward, less evolved existence out of fear and/or laziness.  Devo were interested in an evolved culture, and reacted musically because there was little in our popular culture to celebrate.  Somehow Devo found a vein into mainstream radio and video markets.  They’d achieved quite a coup.

So now, as we are set to witness the reforming of the band at the Winter Games in British Columbia, followed by an appearance at this year’s Coachella festival, the question still remains:  Are we as a species evolving, or de-volving?  Is a band like Devo more relevant now than ever before?  Did they hit a stroke of genius with their “people ain’t all that smart and are getting stupider” schtick?  How would Sarah Palin answer these questions?

While there is no clear answer, it’s interesting to note that there seem to be two diverging human plans in emergence.  One is that of the “evolved” – the one who is conscious of his/her place in the world, and in general lives a life intended to learn, grow, create, and inspire.  The other is that of the “de-volved” – this manifests in one who is caught in the treacherous throes of fear and/or laziness and rather than expressing anything novel, returns again and again to his/her old stories.

I like to be surprised by works of art – to hear a song or watch a film that blows me away, and brings something new into the world.  I don’t like the feeling of banging my head against a wall, trying to distract myself from the dull sounds of a lifeless, derivative, uninspired song – nor the feeling of leaving a movie theater after suffering through a lazy, careless film that actually leaves me feeling less intelligent.  We are both evolving and de-volving at the same time.

I wonder where most people believe we are in our current phase as a human community.  It would be a mistake to dwell on the oft depressing reality of our collective de-evolution.  That ain’t no fun!!!   What sounds much more interesting to me is to focus on the bright lights swirling around the earth in the forms of inspired artists, conscious scientists, righteous explorers, and brilliant leaders (to name a few).  There is much to be proud of at the end of the day.  I’d say we’re functioning at somewhere near a B+ level.  I can’t help but hope that in a day soon to come, we will have no need for a band like Devo.  Let’s give those old dudes a break!

“Which is the most universal human characteristic, fear or laziness?” – Richard Linklater, from Waking Life

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~ by Nicholas Pallos on February 21, 2010.