Cultural Wanderings
Though more connected by ever - expanding technological means, there seems to be a growing disconnect between action and consequence. The internet aids us in the race against time, allowing us to socialize, learn, and create community on our own schedule, but this web of connectivity adds countless distractions and lessens the depth of our experiences. As we move away from the tangible to a brave new world of convenience and isolation, what happens to culture and the actual space we inhabit?
Even the nouns used to describe our actions have changed: talk, meet, and experience are frequently replaced by text, tweet, post, and follow. This in turn shapes how we envision our place in the world, encouraged by consumer culture to think in terms of “i” versus “we.”
In searching for ways to illustrate these contradictions, I look for moments that visualize the absurd and the indulgent as well as the contrasting costs of such self-gratification. Through these images, my hope is to encourage a new vocabulary that includes connection, community, accountability, moderation, and sustainability.