The Allegory Of The Silent Party
1
There was an underground club where the Party People partied all day and night. It was a silent party where everyone wore headphones that were fastened to their heads by a metal brace around their necks. A metal plank that went from the top of their heads to their upper back was attached to the contraption, which prevented them from looking up. They could never take the headphones off, but the Party People didn’t care because partying was life to them.
2
The Party People were able to alternate between three stations. They could choose the station with a button on the right side of the earpad of their headphones. The headphones lit up red, yellow or blue based on the station they were tuned into at the time. Each station alternated between the same playlist of hundreds of songs of all different genres. Ever so often, a new song would be added to the mix. No color could be playing the same song at the same time.
3
The Party People, of course, had some light. The light they had was provided by fluorescent disco lights which would flash all about the club in an array of displays. The disco lights were the only way they could see each other as to not bump into the next Party Person.
4
Against one of the walls was a raised stage above their field of vision. On the stage were three “DJ’s”-- one for red, one for yellow and one for blue-- standing behind three tables with a laptop on each table. Their section was dimly lit. The “DJ’s” also had microphones where they’d yell into the headphones, “This is the greatest party there is! You better not go anywhere! You don’t wanna miss what’s next!” at random times as the music played. The Party People believed them.
5
Under the stage, there was a door where servers would come out with trays of the murky elixir that was served to the Party People that quenched their thirst, gave them energy and nourished them. When the servers had served all the drinks on their trays, they’d go back behind the door. The door was unlocked, but the Party People never thought to go back there because they thought it’d be boring. What could be back there besides the drink?
6
The Party People would be tuned into their station, dancing to the music playing. Though the Party People never stopped moving, most of the time, they were dancing nonchalantly or bobbing their heads, mouthing the words they’d come to memorize over the years. When one of the hit songs would come on, they’d dance harder and more wildly, loudly reciting the lyrics. They’d gather together in scattered groups by color as they danced and sang.
7
The Party People developed their own new line dances and individual steps to the songs. Whoever got the most people doing their dance at the same time during a song while listening to a particular station would have a chain bestowed upon them. The red station’s chain was rose gold, the yellow station’s chain was gold and the blue station’s chain was platinum. The chains would alternate necks as new dance crazes took over.
8
As stated before, the Party People were free to choose which station they wanted. However, some grew loyal to a specific color and would never change. Others would like how hard the listeners of another color would be partying, so they would turn to that station and join in on the fun. Others simply liked certain tempos, sounds and styles, switching stations until they found their preference. Still, others would see another Party Person they were attracted to tuned in to a different station and change to that one so they could dance together. Although they were all essentially listening to the same music, the different kinds of Party People would judge others for what they were listening to, thinking their taste was superior.
9
Periodically, one of the Party People would tire of hearing/dancing to the same songs over and over again for years. They would become a Wallflower, solemnly standing against the wall and watching the party. Regardless of what the “DJ’s” said, they would long for something different than this so-called “greatest party there is.”
10
The servers would take notice of this and know that it was that Party Person’s time to go. They’d walk over to the Wallflower and unfasten the headphones from their head. The Party People didn’t realize this was happening because they were too focused on the never-ending party at hand. The Wallflower would then roll his neck around for the first time to work out the kinks. They would look up and see the “DJ’s” for the first time and the disco lights flashing. It would genuinely freak them out.
11
The Wallflower would then notice that the party was largely silent aside from the reciting of lyrics and cheers of the crowd. Their ears would be ringing due to the years of loud music being pumped into them. It would be hard to hear the server’s directions as to what to do next, and the Wallflower could only speak by yelling so that they could hear themselves over the ringing.
12
The server would lead the Wallflower to the door and through it to the kitchen where the drink was made. Their eyes had to adjust to the bright kitchen light. They’d see servers either filling up their trays or sitting around waiting until their next trip out to the dancefloor. The Wallflower would see the drink being made and that it was merely a powder mixed into water in a large cooler. As the ringing in the ears died down, they were able to hear more clearly and didn’t have to shout their replies to the server.
13
The server would then lead the Wallflower up a flight of stairs. The Wallflower would have to imitate the server’s steps upward since they had no comprehension of walking up. They’d stumble a few times before they got the hang of it.
14
Once at the top of the stairs, the server showed the “DJ’s” on the dimly lit stage over the Party People. The Wallflower would see the screens of the laptops with the song titles, artists’ names, genres and run times. They would also see the “DJ’s” did nothing more than put the shared playlist on shuffle. Before that, the Wallflower would name the songs in their head based on what they heard. They never thought that the songs had actual titles and that people with names actually made them. The Wallflower knew that certain songs sounded different stylistically than others, but didn’t think they belonged to an actual genre. They would also see the microphones in which the “DJ’s” were using. The Wallflower always thought them saying it was the greatest party ever was just the way it was. Then, they’d considered that the servers never said anything like that.
15
As the Wallflower watched the whole scene as it was in amazement, the server led him to another door at the back of the “DJ’s” section. The door was opened, and it led outside. The natural light from the sun wowed the Wallflower as they walked towards it. They could hear more music being played outside but didn’t know the point of origin.
16
Once outside, the server went back inside and closed the door. The Wallflower wouldn’t even notice. They would be too enthralled by the shining sun, the green blades of grass, colorful flowers, flowing streams and peaceful, glistening lakes. They would be fascinated by the animals scampering about on the ground and birds flying through the air. When they had taken all of this in, they’d start to wonder where the music was. Where is the “DJ?”
17
The Wallflower would follow the sound until they saw a large crowd dancing in front of a big stage with speakers and a monitor that showed the different acts on stage at a music festival. Everyone would be listening to the same song at the same time. The genres varied. On the stage would be singers singing, backed up by bands with live instruments. There would also be rappers with real DJ’s spinning records on turntables. All around the crowd were food trucks serving different kinds of food and drink. If any crowd members (who were once Party People-turned-Wallflowers) weren’t feeling the song being performed, they would go off to the side and order something to eat and/or drink from the food trucks. They would also talk to each other about the music they were listening to, explaining why they did or didn’t like the songs being played. Crowd members would even venture off on nature walks and discuss the things that they saw before returning to the festival.
18
The Wallflower would then enjoy themselves at the show under the sun while breathing fresh air instead of in the stuffy club that smelled of sweat and body odor. They would dance with the crowd members and recite lyrics as they learned them. They would learn to distinguish the sounds each instrument made to complete the songs. They would visit the different food trucks and try tacos, French fries, cheesesteaks, milkshakes and more for the first time. Sometimes, they would realize nothing would truly quench their thirst other than purified water.
19
After some time, the Wallflower would go back to the club to try to put his old peers onto the greatness that was the music festival. They would go back to the door and go in, then walk back through the “DJ’s” section, down the stairs back to the kitchen, then out to the party. They would go into the midst of the party and try to get the Party People’s attention. The Party People would be too into the party to notice. The Wallflower would then tap one of the chain-wearers to try to convince them to come outside.
20
They would look at the Wallflower like they were crazy for not wearing headphones or carrying a tray with drinks. Seeing that this was pointless, the Wallflower would then make their way up to the “DJ’s” section. They would take each “DJ’s” microphone yelling, “Listen! I was once one of you! This isn’t the greatest party ever! The chains don’t matter! There’s much more out there! Just ask a server to take off your headphones, then follow me outside!” The Party People would then laugh at this strange voice and get back to what they were doing. They’d keep partying but wonder who the former Party Person was in their ear and who made them think so foolishly. If they caught anyone else leading a Party Person to the light, they would surely put that person to death for wanting to rob one of their own of the best time there is.
21
Seeing that the mission was futile, the Wallflower would think to themselves like Homer: “Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner.” They would then make their way back outside to the eternal music festival in the sun to become a permanent member of the crowd. They would dance, eat, drink, explore and converse to their hearts’ desire, but never forget the Party People self-segregating themselves and living in darkness.
