If you've ever studied classical literature you may have heard of a concept called "in media res" - Latin for "In the middle of things". It is used in reference to where in the overarching story we are placed when starting an epic poem such as "The Iliad" or "The Odyssey." We are thrust into the middle of the action and thus have to catch up to speed.
I found myself "in the middle of things" not too long ago when I got off two weeks out of cell phone range on the trail. While I had an amazing time, that is not what I am writing about. As I regained access to the internet, I sent out a mass snap asking my friends what I had missed. While a few mentions of the tragedies that had occurred did pop up, the recurring theme was some game called "Pokémon GO." Naturally, I asked what it was, to which my friend replied that asking that was like "asking who Donald Trump is." I guess I had missed a lot. One of my friends described it as a "cultural phenomenon." And that it was. The idea of groups of people going out into the real world searching for digital creatures, sometimes dying in the effort seemed bizarre. It was almost like a microcosm of culture shock. But after warming up to the idea I realized that instead of being a week behind literally everyone I knew, I could take a look at this cultural phenomenon, as my friend put it, in media res.
Usually, when our culture is fascinated by a certain thing like odd dance videos or following an eccentric DJ on Snapchat, we get to see the gradual progression from minor cult following into small trend into full-on obsession. But from missing these first two stages, I got to observe the obsession by itself.
Now I don't know if Pokémon GO will be a fad that's over and forgotten in a month or a mainstay of our culture in this time period. What I do know is that for the time being, it has changed how we interact. People form groups a lot more often just to go hunting, and often meet new people at Pokéstops. Where I used to assume that someone walking around with their head down was texting, I now assume they are playing Pokémon GO. I am still in disbelief that in a little under a month people have changed the way they interact with one another, even if it is in this small of a way. It really felt like I had woke up from a coma in a weird future.
Pokémon GO definitely changed things from before it arrived, even if it was in a small way. But I think that the way that it encourages people to go outside, exercise, and meet people is a change for the better.
