We Yearn for the Medieval Times

Scroll. Switch back to your show. Scroll again. The never-ending sense of dread with procrastinating and being addicted to your phone can take over your life, and sometimes you wish it could all go away. If nothing else, the fear of being run over by an electric scooter brings out the yearning for a time before any automations or technology.

Though the time dramatically came to an end with the Black Plague, the medieval times and its societal pleasures for the rich are sometimes things that we wish to partake in. Yet, we’re not that far from those forms of entertainment at our very own Penn State.

Influencing Humor

With the rise of TikTok and the known perks of becoming an influencer, a relatively large percent of the student body have taken to social media in an attempt to become the next big thing.

Whether it has paid off in their favor, or they’re still attempting to figure out the algorithm, it seems that they all vie for making their audience laugh and applaud them in large levels. It’s almost as if it’s their full-time job.

Our very own court jesters, influencers create a humorous atmosphere and attempt to impress the royalty, which is the TikTok Creator Fund. After all, their main source of income is based on their ability to crack a joke.

Call For Carriers

In the medieval times, people took to carrier pigeons to relay their messages to their companions. Or, they resorted to posting at the town square to gain the attention of the public.

Though our bulletin boards in the academic buildings may be littered with pages advertising a new martial arts studio downtown, Penn State has our very own form of public declarations: Yik Yak.

Think about it — posting about updates with the campus, calling out others for their odd behavior or advertising events happening to the general public all happen through this platform. People can reach out and share their thoughts or further contribute to the discussion.

Either way, like a posting at the town square or a carrier pigeon, Yik Yak seems to bring us together quite medievally. 

Medieval Mindfulness

Even when Penn State seems to be the furthest thing from a medieval town, whose main form of entertainment is the newest import or the latest battle news, we seem to have many similarities that help us stay connected to a more grounded and unplugged version of ourselves.

Although technology is one of the greatest things we can use to our advantage, it doesn’t hurt to embrace the inner medieval citizen within you.

What do you wish you experienced from the medieval times? Let @VALLEYmag know on X!

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