Rift examines the intricate relationship between media saturation and personal perception within an era of intensified tension and unease. Following Lithuania’s independence in 1991, the nation’s media landscape remained engaged and responsive, particularly regarding the enduring spectre of foreign influence and past occupant influence. This atmosphere grew even more charged after Crimea’s annexation in 2014, as the media cycle became dominated by the imminence of war, casting a shadow over daily life.
The ongoing conflict, particularly the war in Ukraine, sustains a sense of looming instability, amplifying anxieties and reshaping perceptions beyond the virtual world. This project confronts the psychological state of paralysis and powerlessness that arises in response to relentless, anxiety-inducing media narratives, unveiling the profound impact these stories have on our sense of agency. Through this lens, it explores the ways in which media not only informs but also permeates individual experience, revealing the emotional weight of distant wars and questioning the limits of influence in an era marked by constant crisis.