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The Divisiveness of Mobile #de_Vices

April 20, 2012 By Ron Dawson

This past Sunday my daughter and I were having a conversation about the state of technology. She asked me my opinion about the fact that technology has connected the world more ways than ever before, yet that same technology has us more disconnected than ever before. (She’s rather deep for a 17-year-old). I commented that I totally agree with that sentiment. It’s one of the things I learned when I disconnected from my mobile device over a year ago by canceling my iPhone plan. She commented how she thought it’s a good thing that friends can stay connected and “talk” to each other via mobile devices, even if they don’t live in the same city anymore. I retorted that by doing that, you miss out on opportunities to connect with potential new friends sitting right next to you.

Photo © Zack Arias

My point was made perfectly later that same day while waiting for my oil change. A mother and daughter were seated in a leather love seat in the waiting room, each buried in their respective iPhones, undoubtedly tweeting, checking Facebook and/or checking email. I called my daughter in to show her and she just smiled.

Where is Zack Arias when you need him?

Photo © Zack Arias

Zack’s #de_VICE Personal Project

This week I conclude my “personal project” theme with a review of Zack Arias’ #de_VICE personal project. Zack’s project started on a whim. He was taking street photos in New York when he saw a girl lost in her iPhone. He took the photo, turned around then saw another person lost in their mobile device. Then another. That started what became an ongoing project that became so popular, it was eventually picked up by CNN’s blog. (Yowza!)

There are three things I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about this project?

  1. The Simplicity. You don’t have to be a Zack Arias-caliber photographer to do a project like this. Ironically, this is a project you could do on your iPhone. (As long as your’re not buried in it like the subjects in these photos).
  2. The Variety. There is no shortage of subject material for a project like this. Everywhere you look you can find people disconnected from the world around them. Even in the waiting room of a Diamond Lube & Spa.
  3. The Message. But perhaps my favorite aspect of this personal project is that there’s a message. It’s a beautifully simple yet poignant look at our society and a social commentary on what we hold valuable in our world today. I can’t help but think about the denizens of Axiom, the mothership in the Pixar film “Wall-E.” Floating around on their mobile lounge chairs, completely disconnected from their surroundings and even their loved ones. Are we headed for such a fate?

Shoot from the Heart

So there you have it. Three personal projects this week from filmmakers and photographers, each garnering massive acclaim, not because they tried to become viral, but because they were authentic, passion projects from the heart. So go out, shoot from your heart. Whether or not your video gets 2 million views in a week, or whether or not your photography is picked up by CNN, just go out and do something personal. Improve your craft. Follow your calling. Make an impact on the world. If you do that, you’ll be surprised at what may happen.

Related

Filed Under: Inspiration, Photography Tagged With: #deVice, personal work, social media, Zack Arias

About Ron Dawson

Ron is a writer, filmmaker, speaker, author, coach, and host of Radio Film School. He does brand and content marketing for the media and tech industries at Blade Ronner Media.

Comments

  1. Print-Sense Photography & Design says

    April 20, 2012 at 9:33 am

    Your observations are a North American epidemic. I watch kids right next to each other text an entire conversation, of little substance, and never say a word. The art of conversation is dying and the upcoming generations show little desire to save it! It is sad really.

    • Ron Dawson says

      April 20, 2012 at 9:36 am

      I’ve seen the same thing with our team of teen girls for our photography business. A whole group of girls sitting on a sofa, all texting and tweeting with Lord knows who.

      But I’ve also seen it among adult photographers at conferences like WPPI.

      It is kinda sad.

  2. Clint Regehr says

    April 20, 2012 at 9:41 am

    Great post Ron!

    Yikes, I’m buried in my iPhone while reading and responding to this. 🙂

  3. alessandro ciapanna says

    April 20, 2012 at 9:42 am

    i so agree with you. i have just posted some photographs of tourists in rome all taking the same picture with the most diverse of devices. 🙂

  4. Zack Arias (@zarias) says

    April 20, 2012 at 9:53 am

    Thanks Ron!

    Cheers,
    Zack

    • Ron Dawson says

      April 20, 2012 at 10:13 am

      Thank YOU my friend for your continued inspiration.

Trackbacks

  1. The Power of Disconnecting from The Net | Dare Dreamer Magazine says:
    August 21, 2012 at 8:01 am

    […] most importantly, it helps break you of any addiction to social media. How do you know if you’re addicted. If you can’t go more than a couple of hours without checking your tweets, email, Pinterest […]

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