Speed is the form of ecstasy the technical revolution has bestowed on man. As opposed to a motorcyclist, the runner is always present in his body, forever required to think about his blisters, his exhaustion; when he runs he feels his weight, his age, more conscious than ever of himself and of his time of life. This all changes when man delegates the faculty of speed to a machine: from then on, his own body is outside the process, and he gives over to a speed that is noncorporeal, nonmaterial, pure speed, speed itself, ecstasy speed.
Milan Kundera's exploration of speed highlights the distinction between human experience and mechanical acceleration. While a motorcyclist is liberated from the constraints of their body, a runner remains acutely aware of their physical limitations and the realities of aging. This consciousness of the body brings forth a deep connection to time and personal struggle as the runner is immersed in the act of running, where sensations like blisters and exhaustion continually remind them of their humanity.
In contrast, when speed is handed over to machines, individuals experience a detachment from their own physicality. This shift brings a form of ecstasy, as people can now engage with pure speed, unencumbered by the weight of their bodies. Kundera suggests that this delegation transforms the experience of movement, leading to a disembodied form of exhilaration. It raises questions about the implications of technology on human experience and our relationship to time and existence itself.
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