When Instagram first became popular, a lot of people were wondering "What's the point of it." Many people described it as a sort of twitter for pictures; a way for you to keep other visually updated on your daily life.
The idea that we can take control of our social media identities through networks like Instagram is very interesting to me. While we may have control over the pictures, how they look, their filters, their captions, we don't have control over how other people will react to them or even how they will engage with them. The more we put out there for others to see, the less control we have -- but not everyone sees it that way. For some people the more pictures they publish online equals more followers and more recognition for the beauty of their pictures or possibly themselves.
I think this type of interaction is cheapening the personal ties we have with one another. Instead of getting to know people by talking to them, we are getting to know them by creeping through their Instagram album.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Instagram Beauty Pageants
The use of self portraits, or "selfies" has overtaken social media and especially the new instagram sensation. Young girls are now posting pictures of themselves in little to no clothing for a new "beauty pageant" where people can like their pictures and rate them on who looks the best or the "hottest." Photos are being used to indicate beauty and "social worth" within the context of social media and cyber space. As our reading indicated, these comments and "likes" act as compliments and show the persons worth. Instead of positive comments, the instagram pageant is attracting rude, mean, and harassing comments that are hurting feelings of the girls posting the pictures. Instagram attacked back by saying is it the parents responsibility to monitor their child's instagram. Although the use of media and photography is changing rapidly, our older generations of society are not as accepting of these changes. The media is used for fast communication and the "producing and reproducing" of our social life.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/04/instagram-beauty-pageants-draw-parents-scrutiny/
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/04/instagram-beauty-pageants-draw-parents-scrutiny/
The Rise of Digital Photography
Technology is constantly evolving and improving. The rise of digital photography has changed the way in which we value photos. Our grandparents understand photos as a source of memory and reminiscing, whereas people of my generation use it as a documentation of their daily lives. People use picture messaging via cell phones to essentially send virtual post cards and the influx of social media outlets like Facebook give individuals the ability to document their daily activities. It makes one wonder, what's next?
Monday, April 1, 2013
Identity and The Selfie
In the article Digital photography:communication, identity, and memory, Jose Van Dijick talks about digital photography and the way it allows us to create an identity rather than look back on one. The article focuses on the difference between analogue and digital photography. Van Dijick argues that analogue photography was about looking back and remembering who we were, where as digital is about creating who we are.
This concept made me think of selfies. Selfies are pictures we take of ourselves by ourselves. The selfie also relates to Van Dijick's idea that digital photography gives us more control. "When a picture is taken, we want those photographs to match our idealized self-image -- flattering, without pimples, happy, attractive -- so we attempt to influence the process by posing, smiling, or giving instructions to the photographer," wrote Van Dijick (64). We are constantly trying to control the way others see us, and we often do this through digital photography. With selfies, there are many people who take dozens and dozens of pictures of themselves just to make sure they are sending the right image to their peers. It is a way for them to document their appearance at a specific time in their lives as well as get attention from others.
This is an interesting way of seeing because it not only involves how others see us, but how we see ourselves.
This concept made me think of selfies. Selfies are pictures we take of ourselves by ourselves. The selfie also relates to Van Dijick's idea that digital photography gives us more control. "When a picture is taken, we want those photographs to match our idealized self-image -- flattering, without pimples, happy, attractive -- so we attempt to influence the process by posing, smiling, or giving instructions to the photographer," wrote Van Dijick (64). We are constantly trying to control the way others see us, and we often do this through digital photography. With selfies, there are many people who take dozens and dozens of pictures of themselves just to make sure they are sending the right image to their peers. It is a way for them to document their appearance at a specific time in their lives as well as get attention from others.
This is an interesting way of seeing because it not only involves how others see us, but how we see ourselves.
Witnessing War
Witnessing War was a fascinating article because it touched on the differences between Western and non-Western media in covering war. War and propaganda are very interesting to me because we have been using media to our advantage since the first photographs of war emerged.
Western cultures are much more likely to censor their images in order to maintain a respectable and dignified public image -- but this image was not always representative of the truth.
Images of war are often used to manipulate the public and garner their support for various endeavors. I personally think this is undemocratic because it is a way of withholding the truth from citizens of a country. Withholding inhibits our ability to see. But I am still forced to wonder whether there is a line that the government must walk when showing or censoring images to the public. How far is too far?
Western cultures are much more likely to censor their images in order to maintain a respectable and dignified public image -- but this image was not always representative of the truth.
Images of war are often used to manipulate the public and garner their support for various endeavors. I personally think this is undemocratic because it is a way of withholding the truth from citizens of a country. Withholding inhibits our ability to see. But I am still forced to wonder whether there is a line that the government must walk when showing or censoring images to the public. How far is too far?
History Repeats
When we read The Veil and The Visible, I found the attack on the hijab in public school very interesting. These veils represent many things to many different people, but it all depends on where you live. This New York Times article discusses how a small region in Russia is also banning the hijab in public schools, much like the French did.
These restrictions indicate a greater fear that people have of not only Muslims, but of Eastern culture and the distinct differences it has from Western culture. The veil can represent danger, suspicion, and the unknown. Isn't that something we are always fearful of? The unknown?
It seems that whenever regulations are tightened or things are banned, it is due to fear. This can be good and bad, but what would be better is to somehow gain a better understanding of the things we are fearful of. The Muslim religion makes Westerners uneasy because they don't fully understand it, and the same goes for the hijab.
These restrictions indicate a greater fear that people have of not only Muslims, but of Eastern culture and the distinct differences it has from Western culture. The veil can represent danger, suspicion, and the unknown. Isn't that something we are always fearful of? The unknown?
It seems that whenever regulations are tightened or things are banned, it is due to fear. This can be good and bad, but what would be better is to somehow gain a better understanding of the things we are fearful of. The Muslim religion makes Westerners uneasy because they don't fully understand it, and the same goes for the hijab.
Digital Manipulation and Identity Formation
Digital photography not only allows for manipulation of images to view are more desirable image of ourselves, but it also creates a false identity for us to mentally embrace. In this photograph, the woman is seen as being fit and glowing, and creates an identity of a model, but in "reality" the women is overweight and has a normal skin tone. This poses a problem to society, because if more and more people are using digital means to create an identity, are we all creating false identities to which we live by? Could this lead to narcissistic tendencies or behaviors or are we setting ourselves up for failure because we can never "live up" to our idealistic identities?
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