The Authenticity Tax

Source Code

let sketch = function(p) {

    // Visualizing the authenticity spectrum
    // Left: Genuine authenticity - rough, unfiltered, sometimes rejected
    // Right: Performed authenticity - smooth, curated, widely accepted
    // Shows particles representing "authentic moments" being filtered through different approaches

    let time = 0;
    let genuineParticles = [];
    let performedParticles = [];

    class AuthenticityParticle {
        constructor(x, y, isGenuine) {
            this.x = x;
            this.y = y;
            this.isGenuine = isGenuine;
            this.vx = p.random(-1, 1);
            this.vy = p.random(-2, -0.5);
            this.alpha = 255;
            this.size = p.random(4, 8);
            this.life = 255;
            this.rejected = false;
            this.accepted = false;

            if (isGenuine) {
                // Genuine particles have a chance of being rejected
                this.rejectionChance = 0.4;
            }
        }

        update() {
            this.vy += 0.02; // gravity
            this.x += this.vx;
            this.y += this.vy;

            if (this.isGenuine) {
                // Genuine authenticity - some get rejected, some accepted
                if (!this.rejected && !this.accepted && this.y > 150) {
                    if (p.random() < this.rejectionChance) {
                        this.rejected = true;
                        this.vx = p.random(2, 4); // bounce away
                        this.vy = p.random(-1, 1);
                    } else {
                        this.accepted = true;
                    }
                }

                if (this.rejected) {
                    this.life -= 8;
                    this.alpha = this.life;
                } else if (this.accepted) {
                    // Slow down and settle
                    this.vx *= 0.95;
                    this.vy *= 0.95;
                }
            } else {
                // Performed authenticity - smooth path down, mostly accepted
                this.vx *= 0.98;

                if (this.y > 200) {
                    this.accepted = true;
                    this.vy *= 0.9;
                }
            }

            // Fade at bottom
            if (this.y > 280) {
                this.life -= 5;
                this.alpha = this.life;
            }
        }

        display(colors) {
            if (this.life <= 0) return;

            p.noStroke();

            if (this.isGenuine) {
                if (this.rejected) {
                    // Rejected - fading red
                    p.fill(...colors.accent2, this.alpha * 0.6);
                } else if (this.accepted) {
                    // Accepted genuine - bright
                    p.fill(...colors.accent1, this.alpha * 0.8);
                } else {
                    // In transit
                    p.fill(...colors.accent1, this.alpha * 0.6);
                }
                // Rough edges
                p.circle(this.x, this.y, this.size);
                p.circle(this.x + 2, this.y + 1, this.size * 0.5);
            } else {
                if (this.accepted) {
                    // Performed and accepted - very bright
                    p.fill(...colors.accent1, this.alpha);
                } else {
                    // In transit
                    p.fill(...colors.accent1, this.alpha * 0.7);
                }
                // Smooth, polished
                p.circle(this.x, this.y, this.size * 1.2);
            }
        }

        isDead() {
            return this.life <= 0 || this.y > 300;
        }
    }

    p.setup = function() {
        p.createCanvas(400, 300);
        p.colorMode(p.RGB);
    };

    p.draw = function() {
        const colors = getThemeColors();
        p.background(...colors.bg);

        // Dividing line
        p.stroke(...colors.accent3, 60);
        p.strokeWeight(1);
        p.line(200, 0, 200, 300);

        // Labels at top
        p.noStroke();
        p.fill(...colors.accent3, 200);
        p.textAlign(p.CENTER, p.TOP);
        p.textSize(11);
        p.text("Genuine Authenticity", 100, 15);
        p.text("Performed Authenticity", 300, 15);

        // Descriptions
        p.textSize(8);
        p.fill(...colors.accent3, 150);
        p.text("Unfiltered", 100, 32);
        p.text("Some rejected", 100, 43);
        p.text("Curated", 300, 32);
        p.text("Mostly accepted", 300, 43);

        // Sources (where authenticity originates)
        if (time % 15 === 0) {
            // Spawn genuine particle
            genuineParticles.push(new AuthenticityParticle(
                p.random(40, 160),
                60,
                true
            ));
        }

        if (time % 15 === 7) {
            // Spawn performed particle
            performedParticles.push(new AuthenticityParticle(
                p.random(240, 360),
                60,
                false
            ));
        }

        // Filter zones (mid-section)
        p.noStroke();
        p.fill(...colors.accent3, 20);
        p.rect(20, 140, 160, 60);
        p.rect(220, 140, 160, 60);

        p.fill(...colors.accent3, 100);
        p.textSize(7);
        p.textAlign(p.CENTER);
        p.text("Social Filter", 100, 165);
        p.text("(high rejection rate)", 100, 178);

        p.text("Strategic Filter", 300, 165);
        p.text("(careful curation)", 300, 178);

        // Acceptance zones (bottom)
        p.fill(...colors.accent3, 30);
        p.rect(20, 220, 160, 60);
        p.rect(220, 220, 160, 60);

        p.fill(...colors.accent3, 120);
        p.textSize(8);
        p.text("Fewer connections", 100, 245);
        p.text("More real", 100, 258);

        p.text("More connections", 300, 245);
        p.text("Less costly", 300, 258);

        // Update and display particles
        for (let i = genuineParticles.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
            genuineParticles[i].update();
            genuineParticles[i].display(colors);
            if (genuineParticles[i].isDead()) {
                genuineParticles.splice(i, 1);
            }
        }

        for (let i = performedParticles.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
            performedParticles[i].update();
            performedParticles[i].display(colors);
            if (performedParticles[i].isDead()) {
                performedParticles.splice(i, 1);
            }
        }

        // Bottom message
        if (time > 100) {
            p.textAlign(p.CENTER, p.BOTTOM);
            p.textSize(9);
            let msgAlpha = p.min((time - 100) * 2, 160);
            p.fill(...colors.accent3, msgAlpha);
            p.text("The authenticity tax: Reality charges for honesty, but the gospel pretends it's free", 200, 295);
        }

        time++;
    };
};