Selfies? Neither Deep Nor Wide Enough, Louise Annarino,4-21-2014
In my recent blog Love and Transcendence I discussed the lack of self-awareness in the use of social media and technological communication. The need of each human being to be seen by others is profound and absolutely necessary for survival. We have five senses for a reason. We need to see,hear,taste,touch, and smell one another. We use our physical senses to learn, protect ourselves, and build connection in community.
When no one sees us, we may feel blindingly empty, even non-existent. We may feel vulnerable and disconnected. This need to be seen would be better named the need of our self to be known. Perhaps, this is why the “selfie” has become such an iconic part of tech communication. This need to be seen may have given rise to the “selfie”.
Posting photos of the food we eat, the places we travel, the things we do will never be enough to satisfy this need to be known. We need to be seen as deeply and widely as is possible. We need to be known by all human senses. We create an image hoping others will see our self. But, can “selfie’s” meet our need to be known? Already, it is a fading fad, perhaps because a photo image is so often merely a reflection; not, the real thing.
I believe human beings need to spend time with people, not merely with their technological faceprint. A photo may evoke memories, but only those photos created through interaction between the subjects touch the soul, where self awareness becomes a mutual exchange.
The more time we spend on-line,the less time we have to be together in the flesh. We smile watching people sitting in a coffee shop, sometimes at the same table, engaged with their laptops, not with one another. We say, “that’s how it is now” and chide those who decry such behavior as “not being in tune with the times”.
Perhaps I am out of tune. The song I sing is meant to be heard, seen, touched, tasted and smelled. Don’t send me a “selfie”. Come visit. I want to see you. I want to know you deep and wide. I want to remain fully human. I want to live fully alive. I wish the same for you.
annarino writes
Selfies? Neither Deep Nor Wide Enough,Louise Annarino,4-21-2014
Selfies? Neither Deep Nor Wide Enough, Louise Annarino,4-21-2014
In my recent blog Love and Transcendence I discussed the lack of self-awareness in the use of social media and technological communication. The need of each human being to be seen by others is profound and absolutely necessary for survival. We have five senses for a reason. We need to see,hear,taste,touch, and smell one another. We use our physical senses to learn, protect ourselves, and build connection in community.
When no one sees us, we may feel blindingly empty, even non-existent. We may feel vulnerable and disconnected. This need to be seen would be better named the need of our self to be known. Perhaps, this is why the “selfie” has become such an iconic part of tech communication. This need to be seen may have given rise to the “selfie”.
Posting photos of the food we eat, the places we travel, the things we do will never be enough to satisfy this need to be known. We need to be seen as deeply and widely as is possible. We need to be known by all human senses. We create an image hoping others will see our self. But, can “selfie’s” meet our need to be known? Already, it is a fading fad, perhaps because a photo image is so often merely a reflection; not, the real thing.
I believe human beings need to spend time with people, not merely with their technological faceprint. A photo may evoke memories, but only those photos created through interaction between the subjects touch the soul, where self awareness becomes a mutual exchange.
The more time we spend on-line,the less time we have to be together in the flesh. We smile watching people sitting in a coffee shop, sometimes at the same table, engaged with their laptops, not with one another. We say, “that’s how it is now” and chide those who decry such behavior as “not being in tune with the times”.
Perhaps I am out of tune. The song I sing is meant to be heard, seen, touched, tasted and smelled. Don’t send me a “selfie”. Come visit. I want to see you. I want to know you deep and wide. I want to remain fully human. I want to live fully alive. I wish the same for you.
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Tagged as photography, self awareness, selfies, social media, technology