the whole apparatus loops back to hiding
behind these lens-cap dioramas and transmitted Tableaux, callers of course found that they were once again stresslessly invisible, unvainly makeup- and toupeeless and baggy-eyed behind their celebrity-dioramas, once again free—since once again unseen—to doodle, blemish-scan, manicure, crease-check
Context
The technology of contact completes its circle by delivering everyone back to the blind, unseen, half-attentive privacy they started from, now at video-fiber prices: behind the fake tableau the caller is once again invisible and free not to attend, the whole advance having existed only to be undone. And the residue it leaves is a population more unwilling than ever to leave the house and meet in person at all, the fear of being seen hardened into a way of life.