Actual Homework 1

            

Response to: “Screen Democracy” or Fascism of the Image? New Audiovisual Regimes in an Era of Indiscriminate Information Dissemination

By F. Javier Panera

             I agree with Panera on his thoughts about documentation. There seems to be a popular belief that “if you don’t post it, then it didn’t happen.” A train of thought that probably stems from insecurities, as well as the fragility of human memory. 

            Think about it. Everyone on social media wants to have the most friends, the most followers, the most likes, etc. Why? To cope with their own personal insecurities imposed on them by societal standards of beauty and/or way of life. There is a constant need for approval. Whether it comes from a prideful grade on a paper or eating a slice of delicious pizza, people are seeking approval because they want to be liked, or “cool”. It’s gotten to the point where auditory confirmation is not believable enough. We need a visual aid in order to process the reality of a person, place, or thing.

            Continuing that thought, it seems to be that we are relying on this need for a visual aid more and more. I know that I, personally, have a horrible memory. This is why I take lots of pictures and journal frequently- because I’m afraid there will be a day I will forget what I’m experiencing now.

            There isn’t a doubt in my mind that we, as a society, are losing memory retention and recall due to digital reliance. Remember the days when you had to have phone numbers memorized just to be able to contact someone? Now days we have caller ID. Why bother memorizing all those phone numbers when you can have your phone store them? Honestly, we are becoming mentally lazy.

 As Big Boi once said, “Life moves so fast. You gotta document the good times, man.”