Event 1: "The Phone in the Apple: Material Technology—Dissolving Bodies"



During week 1, I had the opportunity to attend this event that was held on campus. Specifically, I made it to the session that explored our relationships with our phones. We were able to pick a word card that best represented my relationship with my phone, and so I picked "obsession". We then got in groups with others who picked the same word as us, to discuss this relationship and how we would "mourn" the "death" of our phone.
I found this activity to be quite interesting, as I never thought of phones as beings that would require a "burial". While my attachment to my phone is quite severe, I've always had a love-hate relationship with it. While I recognize the conveniences that smart phones have brought, I often find myself wishing that I lived in a time during which iPhones weren't invented yet. With my group, we also discussed the rise of social media, as a result of the rise of smart phones. I personally despise social media, as I feel that it is a detriment to our generation's children's mental health and acts as a distraction from the more significant events happening in the world.
Furthermore, during our discussion of Instagram, I brought up the idea that "photography" is taking on a whole new definition, as we more often think of portrait photography now, at least at UCLA. Photography is an amazing way to capture emotions and moments; however, the Instagram culture has often reduced photography to pictures of food and outfits of the day, neither of which holds the same artistic values as other forms of photography.

It is a shame that often the advancement of technology clashes with interpretations of art in modern day, but there are ways that we can improve our understanding of the intersection of technology and art. While I personally do not appreciate the rise of social media, I still acknowledge it as a great platform for people to showcase their art and talents. In conclusion, I think it is just about finding that balance and keeping an open mind.

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