Changes in technology and power are transparent in terms of movement, positioning and effect. In this, there is almost a mirrored activity. In terms of visualization, technology has shifted the power of natural memory and thought, and visa versa, moving it into a mechanical and unnatural process. We no longer just have memory, we have memory cards storing and capturing significant moments. We are placing the power of our memory into a man-made, power hungry device.
Possibly we could raise the question if whether or not our social bodies have our best interest at heart. The technology is only rising with new inventions such as Vjing, which further reshape visual experience and memory. Is it all about the money and the power that can be gained, or is it to our benefit, rather than detriment to continue to allow such powerful technological devices to continue to grow and enter our space?
This, in my view, is not a positive progression, as we, as a society and culture, are becoming too reliant on these technological devices and their power, therefore losing touch of the authenticity and beauty of our natural memory storage and thought. We are almost turning into robots, relying on the exterior to connect us to the interior.
Further, I think its safe to say that photos often take away from the authenticity of a moment, dismanteling the pressure to stay connected in the specific time and space. For instance, have you ever noticed when people take a photo with their friends, they create a new moment, in the actual, physical moment. Here, what is being captured does not necessarily capture the actuality of the happenings, therefore, the memory is not accurate. Here, natural memory would be more reliant.
From personal experience, I utilize my IPhone as a tool to remember. I remember faces, events and significant moments from photos.
Here’s a perfect example. I recently visited India with four of my friends. It was single handedly the most beautiful, intriguing and interesting place I have ever visited. We all were obsessed with “capturing the moment”, however, to the contrary, we were losing touch of the physical and real experience. I look back on some of my photographs and notice that the mood and the actuality of the day are not purely represented and presented in the photograph. It was a recent visit, therefore my memories are still quite strong, therefore I still have the ability to compare and contrast. From my memory, particular photos present opposite moods. For instance, I can recall a day when we were all particularly hyper active and rowdy, however the photograph of that day presented a calm and serene image. This was not the true moment, but was rather a capture of a single instance.
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