Don Quixote’s Modern Quest
From Windmills to 5G
In Miguel de Cervantes' iconic work, "Don Quixote," the protagonist embarks on chivalrous quests, often confused by reality and illusion. His battle against windmills, which he sees as malevolent giants, symbolizes a noble but futile fight against imaginary foes.
This timeless quest of Don Quixote oddly resonates with our modern era, where today's "knights" guard themselves not against giants, but against the invisible threats of technology.
Contemporary Armor
Recently, the singer and activist M.I.A. launched Ohmni, a truly unique clothing brand. Among the standout items is the "aluminum hat," specially designed to neutralize electromagnetic waves such as those from WiFi and 5G, and the "Protency boxers," which promise to restore fertility by blocking these waves. Another curiosity, the "Brain Protection Durag," sold for $100, made of pure silver mesh, supposedly offers complete brain protection.
Must-haves or trivial accessories? According to the WHO, exposure levels to electromagnetic waves, like those from Wi-Fi routers, do not pose major risks. However, do these authorized levels reflect our daily usage with the variety of sources?
In light of this complex reality, Ohmni is expanding its offerings beyond clothing, also addressing data theft and tracking protection. Among the accessories, the 'Anti Trace Phone Case' is depicted as a 'real-life VPN.'
All these items, described as the 'first streetwear for the modern information era,' resemble a knight's armor but in a lighter version, illustrating a contemporary quest for protection and autonomy with a touch of style.
An expanding phenomenon
Ohmni isn't the only brand exploring this niche. Facial recognition-blocking clothing, once just a concept, is now available from brands like CAP-ABLE, making these products accessible to a wider audience. At least for those willing to spend $560 on a giraffe pattern that looks like it went on an ayahuasca trip, modeled by someone reminiscent of a pre-fame Zuckerberg.
These camouflage patterns, once designed for military concealment in wartime, now adapt to an era where clothing subtly addresses the challenges of digital scrutiny and surveillance technologies, intended to be worn constantly. After all, we are living in a time of "permacrisis."
This shift towards solutions aimed at countering modern threats like radiation, tracking, and personal data theft is not just symbolic; it's also lucrative. For example, a $75 RFID-blocking wallet model managed to generate +$3 million in 30 days on Amazon US.
However, the usefulness of these protections remains debated here as well. While unauthorized devices can read data from nearby RFID cards, it remains difficult and unprofitable, as scammers prefer online methods. A recent incident in Formula E, however, demonstrated the strategic use of RFID equipment, raising security and ethical concerns.
Trompe-l'œil: Between Reality and Illusion
The anti-tracking trend shares similarities with trompe-l'œil in contemporary fashion. This approach creates striking visual illusions, such as leather pants that look like cotton joggers or printed T-shirts that mimic layered outfits. This "weird" trend is especially evident on the runways of brands like JW Anderson and Our Legacy.
GQ highlights that in an era of AI deepfakes, trompe l’oeil clothes feel mad real. These meticulously crafted fashion items reestablish a sense of reality in a world overwhelmed by the unreal.
An intriguing parallel is that while anti-tracking technologies aim to evade digital attention, using conspicuous tools can paradoxically make us vulnerable, as these distinct markers are often targeted by certain regimes. Trompe-l'œil, by revealing illusions, serves as a barrier against online artifices, acting as some kind of antidote to the digital age. Fascinating.
And so?
While sometimes the enemy is clearly tangible, as in armed conflicts, in this particular case, it seems invisible. Are we succumbing to a paranoia of waves? Is the development of these new clothes creating a hyper-reality where the line between actual safety and the feeling of safety becomes blurred? Does technology, both protective and imprisoning, offer us an illusory freedom in a world of constant surveillance?
Perhaps we are retreating from life itself. In the midst of this mental health pandemic, a tweet about suicide struck me: "I came to realize that I didn't want to die. I just wanted my life as I knew it to die." This crisis reveals our profound desire for change. As modern knights, we must choose our battles wisely, distinguishing giants from windmills, and forge armor from knowledge and wisdom. As Cervantes said, "Better is it for a soldier to die in battle than to save his life by running away."
Marie