'' I didn't see the Mona Lisa. You can't even take pictures of it, so what's the point?'', says the fat American.
Photos capture experience in a form that is possessable. It is true that we 'have experiences', but in today's world of consumerism and capitalism, to have an experience that is relegated to the depths of memory once its temporal existence has terminated is not enough. It is popular as a tourist to record every moment of an experience away from home by capturing in photography. These efforts transform an experience into an object- something that can be held and displayed. It is not enough to 'have' an experience, we must 'possess' an experience, we must 'own' an experience, by transforming that experience into a photo that we can frame and put on our mantle piece.
Such an examination of the purpose of photography in tourism calls into question the connection between livng (the accumulation of experience over time) and society's current paradigm of consumer culture. Are we at an age in which living is only valid or valuable if it can be reduced into an object? Consider all the junk that they sell at the mega-musicals? Is not the art enough? Why do we need a 'thing' in order to validate our experiences?
Over the past three and a half weeks I have taken 555 photos in Europe. I do not think that I am in anyway attempting to capture my experience here. I feel that my experience, here in Europe, and at home, is not able to be reduced into a mere photo, at least a photo taken by such a layman as myself (maybe a true artist could manage to capture a moment of my experience in a photo, but not me). My photos are often a mere exercise in my own attempt to make art out of what I see - not connected to my experience, but rather connected to the geometry of my surroundings. Often my photos provide evidence for a particular scenario or story I wish to share with friends and family on my return home. But these stories exist outside of my own personal experience, and are stories that belong to the places and people I come across on my journey.
Unlike my fat American acquaintance, the Mona Lisa was a part of my journey here, despite the fact they will not like me take a picture.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
When I was there people were taking pictures of the Mona Lisa like their lives depended on it. It was so annoying and I wanted to punch them all in the face. Stupid fat Americans.
And, indeed; why isn't the Big Ben a hot specimen of a man anyway?
love you.
I'd say the car actually beats the white convertible. It has loads more power, and I can drive it comfortably in the rain, which we've had a lot of this week. However, a convertible definitely will someday have a prominent place in my life as well.
As for now, I'll have to get by with this.
i'm jealous. miss you!!
Post a Comment