Hello! I'm your financial journalist and friend, also an economist. Today, we're going to discuss an article from Huxiu that at first glance seems to be about a "magical realism" war story. But if you look beyond the surface, it reveals a very profound paradox between the "attention economy" and the "crisis of meaning."
In simple terms, the article argues that when wars become as high-tech and fast-paced as video games, the human brain can't handle this kind of "cyber horror," so we instinctively revert to the oldest and most primitive forms—religion and mythology—to seek a sense of security.
Let me first highlight the key points, and then break down the logic into five aspects in plain language.
📝 Summary of the Core Content
The article highlights a stark contrast between the dramatic decline in global attention to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the resurgence of religious rituals on the battlefield: the extreme advancement of technology (drones, AI, satellites) stands in stark contrast to the backwardness of spiritual systems (medieval icons, relics, prayers).
The outside world is forgetting about this war due to information overload and a scarcity of attention. Meanwhile, those on the front lines, unable to explain the horror of this high-tech violence with modern rationality, start to "sacralize" war tools (such as holy relics and spears) and revert to traditional rituals (such as prayer walks around the city and tank consecrations) as a form of psychological defense and national identity. It's a clash between "future weapons" and "past souls."
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🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Five Easy-to-Understand Points
1. The "Inflation of Attention": Why Is the World Forgetting About This War?
You might wonder why such a significant event as the Russia-Ukraine conflict is being ignored. This is similar to what we call "news inflation."
- Data speaks for itself: In the first week of the war, there were 520,000 news articles about Ukraine, with intense discussion; 100 days later, there were only 70,000 articles, and interaction decreased by over 95%. Google search popularity plummeted from 100 to 16.
- Easy-to-understand explanation:
It's like when you move into a new neighborhood. On the first day, you pay attention to the construction next door, but after a month, the noise becomes background noise, and you stop caring.
The internet is a huge "attention black hole." With so many disasters, scandals, and hot topics every day, our brains have a limited capacity. When war becomes a constant background noise, people's attention quickly shifts to something more exciting and relevant.
Economic perspective: This is a classic example of diminishing marginal utility. The first bullet is shocking, but the millionth bullet is almost meaningless. To onlookers, the war has lost its "news value" and become just more information.
2. "Mosquito Version of Stukas": How Do Drones Turn Fear into the Everyday Reality?
The article uses a great analogy: drones are like the "mosquito version of Stukas," the famous German dive bombers of World War II, which were terrifying. Today's drones, though smaller, are even more frightening.
- Technology changes the battlefield: In the past, the front lines were clear; you knew where the enemy was. Now, drones make precision strikes as easy as ordering food delivery. Your home, power plant, or cemetery could be destroyed by a small black dot.
- Easy-to-understand explanation:
Wars used to be like boxing matches, with clear opponents. Now, it's like being bitten by invisible mosquitoes—you never know where they come from or when they will stop.
This "indiscriminate, unannounced, low-cost" form of attack destroys people's sense of security. Traditional defenses (air shelters) are ineffective because the target could be anywhere—your power line or the substation below your building.
Key point: When fear becomes routine and random, traditional defenses fail, and people need a new "psychological shield."
3. From "Orthodoxy, Monarchy, Nation" to "Icon Parades": How Does Religion Become a Spiritual Mobilization Tool?
The article mentions Russian churches carrying icons in prayers around the city and even flying them over the battlefield with relics from 1903. This may seem absurd, but in Russian culture, it's a traditional practice.
- Historical inertia: Religion has always been more than just faith; it's a part of national identity. Nicholas I's slogan "Orthodoxy, Monarchy, Nation" embodies this logic.
- Easy-to-understand explanation:
Think of religion as a "spiritual operating system." When modern technology (drones, AI) causes chaos and fear beyond our rational understanding, our brains automatically switch to the "old system"—religion and mythology.
Why do icon parades work? Because for believers, "sacred" things are the only remedy against chaos. Drones represent cold, soulless, high-tech death; icons represent warm, soulful, sacred protection.
This isn't superstition; it's a form of collective psychological healing. Through ancient rituals, people try to find some control and order in an uncontrollable technological war.
4. The Right Hand Bone from 600 Years Ago vs. Today's Missiles: How Does "Sacred Narratives" Connect the Past and Present?
The most striking detail is the relic of Dmitry Donskoy, who defeated the Mongols in 1380, being brought to the front lines for soldiers to see.
- Narrative reconstruction: Dmitry is a symbol of Russian resistance against foreign invaders. Bringing his relic to the front lines sends the message: "The war we're fighting is just as crucial to the survival of the Russian nation as it was 600 years ago."
- Easy-to-understand explanation:
It's like in a game where you encounter a hidden boss you can't beat. Suddenly, the game designer gives you an "ancient artifact," saying, "This is the sword used by the original protagonist; with it, you inherit his power!"
This is the power of "sacred narratives." By linking the current war to historical victories, soldiers gain a sense of "historical destiny" and "certainty of victory."
Putin's statement that "Dmitry is with us" tells soldiers they're not fighting alone; Russia's history and ancestors are behind them. This spiritual motivation is more powerful than sending more missiles.
5. The Mix of "Cyberpunk" and "Medieval": When "Warhammer 40K" Meets Reality
The article mentions a "cyberpunk" phenomenon: Russian tactical companies produce amulets resembling the "pure marks" worn by Space Marines in "Warhammer 40K," which are blessed by churches before being sent to the front lines. Ukraine, on the other hand, regards missile launchers as "sacred spears."
- The sanctification of symbols:
- Russia: Turning a fictional military symbol from a game into a real amulet.
- Ukraine: Turning a modern weapon into a sacred object in folk belief.
- Easy-to-understand explanation:
This is the most ironic and profound part of the article. "Warhammer 40K" is a satire of turning war into religion and death into glory in despair. It shows how reality has indeed turned into this.
Why? Because the more advanced the technology, the harder it is to explain. When AI decides who lives and dies, and drones cover the sky like locusts, traditional morals, laws, and even science can't explain this violence. People turn to "mythology" to make sense of it.
- In Russia, drones are seen as evil, needing to be exorcised by icons.
- In Ukraine, missile launchers are considered sacred, capable of stopping the "iron flood."
Both sides are doing the same: giving cold, technological weapons a sacred meaning so soldiers can find a reason and courage to survive.
💡 Conclusion and Insights
The article ends with a famous quote: "I don't know what weapons will be used in the Third World War, but in the Fourth World War, people will use sticks and stones."
The author suggests that while our weapons have advanced to the future (AI, drones, satellites), our way of explaining and understanding war has regressed to the past (religion, mythology, medieval rituals).
What does this mean for us as individuals?
1. **Be wary of the "vacuum of meaning": When technology outpaces ethics and understanding, people panic. This panic doesn't disappear; it just transforms into new superstitions or extreme nationalism.
2. **Be aware of the "attention trap": News coverage doesn't reflect the importance of events. When the public stops paying attention, the realities on the battlefield may become more extreme and unpredictable.
3. Understand the power of the irrational: When analyzing international situations or business competition, look beyond data and hardware (drones, missiles, funds); also consider the "software" (faith, narratives, cultural identity). Often, victory isn't about who has the best technology but who has the most compelling story and stronger beliefs.
This war is a clash of high technology on the surface, but at its core, it's a struggle of human souls in the tide of technology. It reminds us that no matter how technology evolves, humans still need meaning, faith, and a sense of belonging.