Are we living through a Lens?

Two recent photos posted in the media and on Twitter are an abrupt awakening to how spectators are choosing to experience live events.

The photo below was taken by John Blanding from the Boston Globe on 15 September 2015 at the premiere of  the movie Black Mass at the Coolidge Corner Theater, Brookline, Massachusetts. The photo shows spectators snapping photos of actors as they arrive at the theatre. However, there is one gray-haired lady that stands out from the crowd. No cellphone. Just leaning on the iron fence enjoying the moment.

This photo immediately took on a life of its own on Twitter – first tweeted by Wayne Dahlbert on 26 September, retweeted over 14,000 times and over 16,000 likes.

Is this photo a silent commentary on a generation gap or on entirely different mindset? We do not know. However, we can question whether the spectators who were taking photos with their cellphone actually ‘saw’ and ‘experienced’ the event. Is seeing an event through lens actually living the moment?

This second photo shows spectators watching Sergio Aguero make the penalty shot PSG in the Champions League quarter-final on 12 April 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again out came the cellphone cameras to capture photos and videos of the live event. Could these captures be possibly better than those in the media?

Perhaps these two photos actually a warning to us to think about our society and how we experience what is going on around us. It seems through the lens of a cellphone.

Resources

http://www.mtv.com/news/2339367/put-the-phone-away/

https://twitter.com/waynedahlberg/status/647631533046562816(photo source)

https://twitter.com/MarcSDuffy/status/719968047101030400/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw (photo source)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/photo-sums-up-modern-day-7742024