Attention, Boredom, and Enchantment

A fine pairing of two recent articles

Boredom is a failure of attention, but practicing attention opens the possibility for enchantment.

That’s the conclusion you’ll draw from these two pieces, both of which hit my radar, as it happened, one after the other. Instead of publishing them separately, they make a nice pairing. One provides empirical evidence, the other philosophical evidence, but both reach the same conclusion.

“Digital Switching” Will Bore You (From Relevant Magazine)

If you want to enjoy digital content more, stay focused on the content and minimize digital switching, says Katy Tam, the lead author of a new study from the University of Toronto. According to the study, constantly switching between digital media might actually make us more bored.

The study explores the phenomenon of "digital switching," where users rapidly flip between videos or skip over parts of them in search of something more exciting. This behavior, instead of curing boredom, can intensify it.

Platforms like TikTok and YouTube have designed their algorithms to keep users engaged by offering endless content, but this convenience may lead to a shallow viewing experience. Switching between videos fragments attention and makes it harder to fully engage with anything, resulting in a less satisfying and more boring experience.

Attention is closely tied to our sense of meaning and satisfaction, and constant switching between content prevents deeper engagement. The allure of finding something better with just one more swipe often leaves us feeling unsatisfied. Instead, sticking with just one video can make the viewing experience a lot more enjoyable.

Attention Contributes to Enchantment (From The Convivial Society)

Enchantment and attention are intertwined, says Michael Sacasas, with the quality of our attention determining our perception of the world. The concept of “disenchantment,” popularized by Max Weber, suggests that the modern world lacks magic and intrinsic meaning. But his reading is contested, some calling it a “myth,” and others, simply a failure “to embrace certain modes of being.”

Sacasas instead argues,

“Enchantment is just the measure of the quality of our attention.”

Enchantment, for Sacasas, drawing on the thinking of others, is a state of wonder that can be cultivated through deliberate strategies, such as “honing sensory receptivity.” Attention, as a patient and immersive waiting for the world to reveal itself, is a form of “active passivity.”

This kind of attention not only elicits more of the world but also deepens our consciousness and fosters a richer, more personal relation with the object known. Without attention, “our capacity and inclination to care, desire, love, and act also suffer.”

The myth of disenchantment lulls us into a lack of faith. It invites us to resist the very attention we need to perceive the enchanted quality of the world. We must break free from this cycle by looking again and with care, prepared to believe that the world might still be enchanted.

Featured Articles

Relevant: “Jumping Around Digital Media Increases Boredom”

The Convivial Society: “If Your World Is Not Enchanted, You're Not Paying Attention”

---

Image: Andrew Wyeth, Wind from the Sea, 1947