XIII. The Cinema Age and the Rise of Giant Feelings
Moving pictures learned to move and humanity lost its composure.
People sat in theaters and watched trains approach on screen as if the locomotive might burst through the wall and demand tickets.
Actors with faces bigger than architecture taught entire populations how to kiss, cry, glare, and dramatically remove gloves.
Hollywood emerged like a fever dream with better hair oil.
Stars were manufactured, scandals were monetized, and publicity departments became the first true industrial generators of nonsense.
Newsreels made history cinematic.
Cartoons made physics optional.
Every child wanted to be a hero, every adult wanted to be glamorous, and every studio wanted two sequels and a lunchbox deal.
The world became more connected, and therefore more emotionally vulnerable to a handsome idiot on a poster.
Humanity had discovered the moving image and promptly used it for romance, propaganda, slapstick, and men getting hit in the crotch.