"Who are we counting pieces for in this life?"
In 1998, during the restructuring of a state-owned enterprise, deputy factory director Chen Jianguo converted the length of service of workers into numbers for the first time, and also personally dismantled his half-life beliefs.
In 2015, his son Chen Rui became successful in the Internet advertising industry, selling the myth of "financial freedom", but found that he was just a high-end component on the consumerism production line.
In 2023, documentary directors Su Qing and Chen Rui tried to build a "neighborhood" on the edge of the city to fight algorithmic pricing with barter, but found that the most difficult contract was how to reconcile with their own desires.
Three generations, a "life experiment" that lasted for twenty-five years.
When everything can be priced and everything can be optimized, are those moments that cannot be measured by KPIs - late-night conversations, useless skills, perseverance knowing that you will lose - the only evidence of our existence?
Reader comments
In an era when the logic of capital is fully penetrated, how can individuals find and maintain the state of "real living" - that is, not being alienated into tools and maintaining their authentic connection with themselves, others and the world.
In an era when the logic of capital is fully penetrated, how can individuals find and maintain the state of "real living" - that is, not being alienated into tools and maintaining their authentic connection with themselves, others and the world.