The book I'm reading at the moment is 'The Administration of Fear' ... basically a lengthy interview with Paul Virilio discussing how the "propaganda of progress," the illuminism of new technologies, provide unexpected vectors for fear in the way that they manufacture frenzy and stupor. It's so fascinating.

Modern life, especially because of technology and media, keeps people in a near constant state of alertness. News, images, and information travel instantly, so we are always being shown crises, dangers, and potential threats happening somewhere in the world. Because everything arrives so quickly and continuously, events no longer feel distant or rare. Disasters, conflicts, financial shocks, health scares all appear as part of an endless stream. Even if these events are far away, the speed and intensity of media make them feel immediate and personal. This creates a background sense that something could go wrong at any moment. Fear, in this environment, becomes more than just an emotion. It starts to shape how society functions.