Identity is largely assessed via the materialist ideal of each individual. This is usually shown via clothes, appearance or lifestyle which are all elements or effects of wealth. The sociological changes in consumer patterns has meant that the on going technological advancement presents huge shift in product induced identity. Companies, price, symbols, styles, user interface, Apps, and shape have all become key necessities of today's consumer needs.
It is not a question of what was current yesterday rather what is current today. The 24 hour multi-media platform accessibility means that fads and crazes often begin and end within a 48 hour period. A consumer is bombarded and fed with information so often that the element of shock or interest is hard to maintain for a single news story or video.
This was extremely evident with the recent KONY campaign video which went viral on 5th March, and since then it has had over 79,000,000 views. People expressed a high level of support for the video, it reached an audience across every platform as well as exploding globally across news programmes. Shortly after its release there were floods of people unsure of the viability of the story its self, as well as communities rejecting the video due to race related issues.
A week later and the story has dropped from Facebook news feeds and twitter altogether and now stands within the search engine.
Yet, within this world of the new product reigning over last weeks model, our love for all things retro continues to regenerate across society. The best example could be one APP on the 'Google Play' android market, the Retro Camera. This APP transforms your mobile phone photos into old and imperfect pictures that a pinhole camera would take. Therefore after spending your £180 for a phone with a 5MP camera you then download tech to transform it into something you could potentially find in an old cupboard, thus unlocking a physical thing and developing a skill. Although that's a whole new debate, the simplification of skill based activities such as digital editing, sound production, filming, DJing and photography has allowed a larger populous to experience creating something using their hands instead of their brain. Although digitization is highly supported and allows projects to be completed with ease and efficiency I cannot help but think that it has taken the skill out of the trade.
Which is what led to the discovery of two old film cameras in my house, a Canon AV-1 and a Praktica MTL3 both of which belong to my parents. It has added a new life to capturing images, from the sound of the click once you press the button to the sheer weight of them. To walk around holding these cameras fills me with pride, not only does photography appear within my parents past but to my granddad and great granddad as well, photography was a huge part of their lives and I hope to share their love for it and pass this down the future generations.
These camera's have lasted for decades and are still widely appreciated however the new digital canon's are being constantly out dated and it's seen to be cool to have the latest camera. One of the key reasons I feel is that there is an air of suspicion surrounding old cameras, how does it work, how do you get the film in, what does this button do? I think it's this that I particularly enjoy, because I have no idea if the pictures I take are good and the journey that I will have to take to find out fills me with excitement.
In recent years the physical photo album has become non-existent and replaced by online albums which can be deleted with a click of a button. Which means that in an instant, memories can be lost. My aim is to create memories to look at, hold and preserve.
In this 24 hour consumer world, I often dream of life without my laptop, however in spite of this my online appearance is highly important to my social life as well as my career aspects. Although secretly, I do still constantly look forward to the next power cut, finally able to unleash the candles and bring back the smell of birthdays and family memories.
Yet, within this world of the new product reigning over last weeks model, our love for all things retro continues to regenerate across society. The best example could be one APP on the 'Google Play' android market, the Retro Camera. This APP transforms your mobile phone photos into old and imperfect pictures that a pinhole camera would take. Therefore after spending your £180 for a phone with a 5MP camera you then download tech to transform it into something you could potentially find in an old cupboard, thus unlocking a physical thing and developing a skill. Although that's a whole new debate, the simplification of skill based activities such as digital editing, sound production, filming, DJing and photography has allowed a larger populous to experience creating something using their hands instead of their brain. Although digitization is highly supported and allows projects to be completed with ease and efficiency I cannot help but think that it has taken the skill out of the trade.
These camera's have lasted for decades and are still widely appreciated however the new digital canon's are being constantly out dated and it's seen to be cool to have the latest camera. One of the key reasons I feel is that there is an air of suspicion surrounding old cameras, how does it work, how do you get the film in, what does this button do? I think it's this that I particularly enjoy, because I have no idea if the pictures I take are good and the journey that I will have to take to find out fills me with excitement.
In recent years the physical photo album has become non-existent and replaced by online albums which can be deleted with a click of a button. Which means that in an instant, memories can be lost. My aim is to create memories to look at, hold and preserve.
In this 24 hour consumer world, I often dream of life without my laptop, however in spite of this my online appearance is highly important to my social life as well as my career aspects. Although secretly, I do still constantly look forward to the next power cut, finally able to unleash the candles and bring back the smell of birthdays and family memories.
No comments:
Post a Comment