I recently uploaded a video to Youtube entitled Exodus 32. When I was filming it I'm not quite sure what I was thinking. I know that I really liked it at the time and I had a certain meaning in my head, but I cannot seem to find that same meaning.
While searching for that meaning, I have found a few others that I really enjoy.
Phone loses value every time I look at it.
Every time I check my phone, it loses a bit of whatever value it had. I check it hoping to find something new, something to combat my boredom, a little dose of dopamine. But every time I check it to find nothing new, it becomes more and more monotonous and dreary.
Wallet maintains its value
The wallet atop the phone is something that I could not really remember the reasoning for. Looking back on it, it makes sense for the wallet to be a juxtaposition to the phone's value. As the value of the phone goes down every time I check it, the value of the wallet stays the same.
Both are false idols
Both objects, the iPhone and the wallet, are worshiped as idols in our society. This where the title of the video comes form. Exodus 32 is the bible passage that has the parable of the Golden Calf. Money and material objects (phones more explicitly) are the "Golden Calves" of our society.
Checking the phone as if praising it
The act of lifting the wallet and putting it back down reminds me of a religious action, such as praising or worshiping. Which fits with the motif of these objects being idols.
In the video itself I chose to make a few stylistic changes. One thing you may notice is that the ominous tone is slightly distorted. This was a deliberate choice to help give a slightly unsettling or 'off' feeling. The apparent monotony of the noise complements the motifs of the video, but if you watch for long enough you may also notice that the pitch goes down, then back up. This change in pitch represents a slow change in demeanor towards the phone itself. As "I" continue to check the phone I slowly start to expect different things from it. Ultimately nothing changes.