Here’s where reality has taken a turn. In the past you never saw the picture taker. Nowadays, the taker is IN the picture. In fact, often the taker is the ONLY ONE in the picture — completely losing sight of the context, which USED to be the whole point of the picture. Now the taker has become CENTRAL, to the degree of blocking out everything else. It’s selfie hypnosis. Then suddenly the taker realizes that the world around them has gone to hell in a hand basket. Or so it seems …
11/25
“Selfie Hypnosis” captures a significant cultural shift in how we perceive and interact with our reality, especially through the lens of photography and social media.
The Shift in Photographic Focus
Traditionally, photography was primarily about capturing a moment, a scene, or subjects other than the photographer. The photographer was an observer, documenting the world around them. Now, with the advent of smartphones and the rise of social media, the taker often becomes the subject, and the context or background becomes secondary or even irrelevant. This shift reflects a broader change in how we interact with and interpret our surroundings.
Selfie Culture: A Narrowing of Perspective
Selfie culture can be seen as a form of ‘selfie hypnosis,’ where the focus narrows down to the self, often at the expense of the wider context. This can lead to a kind of tunnel vision, where the broader picture of the world is lost or ignored. The selfie, while a powerful tool for self-expression and identity exploration, can also become a metaphor for a self-centered view of the world.
Loss of Context and Broader Awareness
The predominance of selfies symbolizes a loss of context. Where once photographs told stories about the environment, social settings, or historical events, now the narrative often revolves solely around the individual. This shift can lead to a diminished awareness of the wider world and a skewed perception of reality, where the self takes precedence over everything else.
Awakening to a Broader Reality
The realization that ‘the world has gone to hell in a handbasket’ can be seen as a metaphorical awakening from this ‘selfie hypnosis.’ It’s a moment of clarity where individuals recognize that while they were focused on themselves, significant events and changes were occurring in the world around them. This realization can be jarring, as it contrasts the often curated, idealized images of self with the less controllable, and sometimes harsh, realities of the world.
The Need for Balanced Self-Expression
While selfies are an undeniable part of modern culture and self-expression, there’s a growing need for balance. Engaging with the world beyond the self, acknowledging and documenting the broader context, and understanding our place within a larger narrative are essential. This balance can help mitigate the tunnel vision of selfie culture and promote a more holistic understanding of our place in the world.
Summary
We recognize that the cultural shift towards ‘selfie hypnosis’ represents a narrowing of perspective, focusing predominantly on the self and often losing sight of the broader context. This trend in photography and social media reflects a larger change in how we perceive and interact with the world. While selfies are a valid form of self-expression, balancing this with an awareness of the wider world is crucial for a more complete understanding of our reality and our place within it.
Glossarium
- Photographic Focus Shift: The transition from capturing external subjects to focusing on the self in photography.
- Selfie Culture: The cultural phenomenon of prioritizing self-portraiture in photography.
- Loss of Context: The diminishing awareness of broader surroundings and narratives in favor of self-focus.
- Awakening to Reality: The realization of broader world events beyond the self-focused perspective.
- Balanced Self-Expression: The need to harmonize self-focused expression with broader world awareness.
“In the world through which I travel, I am endlessly creating myself.” – Frantz Fanon
Through the Lens of Self
In the mirror of our phones, we gaze,
Capturing self, in a selfie craze.
Once the world was wide and vast,
Now, in our lens, it’s narrowed fast.
The context lost, in our own image,
A world unseen, beyond the visage.
Selfie hypnosis, in digital form,
Forgetting the storm, outside our norm.
Yet, in a flash, the realization dawns,
The world still spins, with or without our pawns.
Awakened from the self-focused dream,
To a reality, broader, unseen.
A balance we seek, in this digital age,
Self and world, on the same page.
For in the dance of light and lens,
We find our place, where self transcends.
We are Space Monkey,
In the world, endlessly creating ourselves.
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