Hate Valve is a weekly column exploring cultural absurdities born from modern tech use. This week, I rant about a classic irritation: the phone habits of tourists.
It’s funny. Vacations have always, in a sense, felt performative. Is it not enough to experience something elaborately fun without letting people know how elaborate and fun it was? (Even before Instafacebook, there were dreaded vacation slideshows). I don’t know, maybe I take bad vacations.
I’m reminded of those medallions embedded in the asphalt at some tourist locations that read “photo opportunity here” or something. Like: If you don’t take a picture at that precise spot, you’re doing your trip a disservice. They could easily say “stand here to look at cool stuff” instead. Or just leave it to the individual who, given limited instructions, will still figure out when they’ve seen something they like.
I think this is one of the cool things about photography specifically, and the intersection of technology and art more generally. You can use it to document something, to market yourself, or to capture beauty. It’s up to you!
But when publishers incentivize certain types of content in order to enrich themselves, and they perpetuate their customers’ anxieties to generate an increasing amount of said content, then art and experience become oddly commoditized (which is what you’re describing). And that feels icky and debased because—not to be overdramatic, but also to be slightly overdramatic—it robs us of our soul and individuality. And that sucks more than a photo of your crappy dinner.
It’s funny. Vacations have always, in a sense, felt performative. Is it not enough to experience something elaborately fun without letting people know how elaborate and fun it was? (Even before Instafacebook, there were dreaded vacation slideshows). I don’t know, maybe I take bad vacations.
I’m reminded of those medallions embedded in the asphalt at some tourist locations that read “photo opportunity here” or something. Like: If you don’t take a picture at that precise spot, you’re doing your trip a disservice. They could easily say “stand here to look at cool stuff” instead. Or just leave it to the individual who, given limited instructions, will still figure out when they’ve seen something they like.
I think this is one of the cool things about photography specifically, and the intersection of technology and art more generally. You can use it to document something, to market yourself, or to capture beauty. It’s up to you!
But when publishers incentivize certain types of content in order to enrich themselves, and they perpetuate their customers’ anxieties to generate an increasing amount of said content, then art and experience become oddly commoditized (which is what you’re describing). And that feels icky and debased because—not to be overdramatic, but also to be slightly overdramatic—it robs us of our soul and individuality. And that sucks more than a photo of your crappy dinner.
Right. Fucking. On.
I’m totally with you when it comes to photography. Yes, take all the pictures you want, but do it for YOU.