In 'The Social Photo', Nathan Jurgenson explores how digital photography has transformed our social interactions and identity in the age of social media. He challenges the traditional understanding of photography, arguing that it is no longer just a medium for capturing moments, but a tool for social connection and self-presentation. Jurgenson delves into the implications of sharing images online, revealing how it shapes our memories, relationships, and cultural narratives. With thought-provoking insights, the book prompts readers to reconsider their relationship with photography and the digital world. Are you ready to rethink what a photo truly represents in our interconnected lives?
By Nathan Jurgenson
Published: 2019
"In an era where every moment can be captured and shared, we must ask ourselves: What does it mean to truly live in the now, and how do our social images shape our identities?"
"Mr. Jurgenson makes a first sortie toward a new understanding of the photograph, wherein artistry or documentary intent have given way to communication and circulation. Like Susan Sontag’s On Photography, to which it self-consciously responds, The Social Photo is slim, hard-bitten and picture-free." – New York Times A set of bold theoretical reflections on how the social photo has remade our world. With the rise of the smart phone and social media, cameras have become ubiquitous, infiltrating nearly every aspect of social life. The glowing camera screen is the lens through which many of us seek to communicate our experience. But our thinking about photography has been slow to catch-up; this major fixture of everyday life is still often treated in the terms of art or journalism. In The Social Photo, social theorist Nathan Jurgenson develops bold new ways of understanding photography in the age of social media and the new kinds of images that have emerged: the selfie, the faux-vintage photo, the self-destructing image, the food photo. Jurgenson shows how these devices and platforms have remade the world and our understanding of ourselves within it.
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“In an era where every moment can be captured and shared, we must ask ourselves: What does it mean to truly live in the now, and how do our social images shape our identities?”
The Social Photo
By Nathan Jurgenson
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Nathan Jurgenson is an insightful author and sociologist known for his exploration of social media and digital culture. He has contributed to a nuanced understanding of how technology intersects with personal identity and society. His notable works include "The Social Photo: On Photography and Social Media," where he examines how platforms influence our perceptions of photography and communication. Jurgenson's writing style is characterized by a blend of academic rigor and accessible prose, making complex ideas engaging for a broad audience. He is also a co-founder of the social media theory blog 'The Society Pages' and has written for various prominent publications.
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