Weekly Selfie Assignment

 

Raices

“If beauty is what is known as the aesthetic, art here produces a sensory anesthetic to the actual physical conditions.”

— How to See the World: An Introduction to Images, from Self-Portraits to Selfies, Maps to Movies, and More by Nicholas Mirzoeff

“Beauty has no practical purpose.”

— How to See the World: An Introduction to Images, from Self-Portraits to Selfies, Maps to Movies, and More by Nicholas Mirzoeff

I think the biggest influence each quote has this hint about what value is actually in beauty. The short quote is flat out saying that realistically that there is no real need for beauty in certain aspects, especially when you consider that the “is around the time they’re discussing how coal mine work isn’t beautiful, but the way the photographer portrays the actual work itself and implements the smoke from coal it adds beauty but realistically, there is no actual value in beauty. 

“Publicity images also belong to the moment in the sense that they must be continually renewed and made up-to-date. Yet they never speak of the present.”

— Ways of Seeing, John Berger

I think it’s interesting when we think about how I look at past big public figures and news worthy things have such a different meaning and impact than before. Especially when you have to consider that when you’re looking at something, context is so important. Understanding even things like classical literature you have to remember context and time frame because of how quick everything moves. 

“Publicity persuades us of such a transformation by showing us people who have apparently been transformed and, as a result, enviable”

— Ways of Seeing, John Berger 

Publicity is one of the biggest influences in what we consume and what we want to buy. When you think about current day social media, and these rise in “influencers” and they suggestive sell so often and you can barely notice when a review or a product is something that they are authentically interested in. There is so much power in being public.