I had to fill in time in the city the other day, so I went to World Square
and chased the dragon. Similar to Pokemon Go, it festooned the plaza with lanterns and firecrackers while the dragon floated around. I had this moment, while admiring how pretty it was in my phone, when I looked up at the empty square. Then it struck me. 'Are we not going to bother with actual decorations anymore?' (To be fair, there are laneways in World Square strung up with lanterns and pretty lights).
I was reading a blog on how to look younger and her first tip was an instagram fliter - which made me laugh, but it is practical as so much of how we view ourselves is now through a phone camera lens.
I've commented before that the way we see the world, and our place in it is changing. So many festivals and art galleries now offer the 'Instagramable' moment. The Grounds Valentine Day is set up with selfies in mind. Food is designed to be photographed and plastered on social media.
My question is, with augmented reality, is that the next step in the process? We no longer need to fix the world, if we can make it so beautiful with filters and when we look through the lens?
Don't get me wrong, it's just a bit of fun. But I also have an uneasy feeling that little by little we are rewiring our world view, maybe even slowly losing our grip on reality...or at least how we see ourselves, and our role in our life. We are a curator of images for others, not in the moment ourselves. I do this a lot. I'm always taking photos. I need to put the camera away on purpose, a reverse from 20 years ago, when I needed to remember to bring the camera to take photos.
I apologise for the waffling, I can't get the thoughts straight in my mind, so I'm putting it out in the ether and to rest. Would love to hear what you think about all this, and also let you know that the augmented reality is running until the 4th of March (and the dragon offers discounts at shops and restaurants, if you want to go to lunch or dinner there too!). I guess what I'm ultimately getting at, is our image of life becoming more important to us than our actual life?
Linking with #OpenSlather #KCACOLS #StayClassyMama #TwinklyTuesday #FortheloveofBLOG & #GlobalBlogging
Interesting thoughts! As the saying goes "if you don't Instagram it, it didn't happen" but what is Instagrammed is often not the whole reality either is it?!
ReplyDeleteIngrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
I hear ya! Lately, I've been trying to be more in the moment and less on my phone, and especially social media. I do love a bit of keeping it real!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I am very careful about my use of phone/social media. I don't filter my selfies or my life (although I don't share everything anyway) and try to limit documenting things so I can stay in the moment. I would hate to live in a virtual reality and just because we can add virtual effects and experiences I would prefer the real thing. Same as I read both paperback and digital books, everything in moderation. If they decided to stop printing books to save costs and trees I would be crushed because I think as humans we need to maintain tactile experiences or we risk losing that connection to the moment.
ReplyDeleteI think there will be a movement back to where it all started... just simple images and being real. At least that's what I hope.
ReplyDeleteI don't filter my selfies and am quite guarded on social media. I love the photos you have here by the way. Pen x #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteVery thought-provoking. To take that idea further, can you imagine us some time in the future, everyone walking around wearing some kind of google glasses style thing where we see everything through that filter and the world beyond that glass is very different to what we see. You should write a story about that.
ReplyDeleteI feel like for me, I've gotten pretty good at being able to take photos and be in the moment at the same time, mostly because I've done so many jobs lately that require me taking the kids out and photographing the venue/experience and I've had to get really good at being able to do both and not have the girls whinging at me that I'm not paying attention. But it has taken me time and not everyone can do it.
That would be very black mirror!
DeleteYes! So true. I am over seeing the selfie thing everywhere, especially when people should be enjoying the present moment.
ReplyDeletei was reminded of this on my weekend trip with a heap of millenials. Mobile phones all around, and here I am with my digital camera...Not getting the virtual dragon...would love to be in china town experiencing the real thing myself...
ReplyDeleteI am so guilty of using a filter to make myself look younger. It’s scary to think that we view a lot of the world through our phones and that it maybe modified. I wonder what it will be like when my daughter is older. Thanks for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
ReplyDeleteReally interesting. While my photos aren't flatlays or pro, they're often taken with a social media in mind! I do think it's quite an intriguing thought that our reality is not actually a reality! If that makes sense... #kcacols
ReplyDeleteIts scary sometimes. You see some of these sci fi movies where people are living in these blasted out worlds but don't know it because they are plugged in to a fake one and sometimes it doesn't seem so far fetched #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteWe’ve got a Virtual Reality headset and it’s quite scary how you can become totally immersed in the game when you have it on #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. I love Pokemon Go. It's awesome. #kcacols
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