Annaiswriting, 9/26

         During class this week while discussing Benjamin and mechanical reproduction, we discussed how his work from 1935 still provides a relevant analysis and critique of media in 2021. In class, I brought up the difference between film and stage acting. During a stage performance, the actor has one chance to perform their scene and the audience watches the show from one angle the entire time. On the other hand, while creating a film the director can film a scene as many times as they need to. They also have full control of the angles and the way in which the audience views the film. We also discussed how Benjamin writes about the audience not having any connection to the actors, but that is untrue today due to social media. Social media creates a false illusion of fans knowing about the lives of their favorite actors and actresses. However, the photos that celebrities post on social media only accurately reflect a small portion of their lives.

       After this discussion of social media in class, I reflected on the parallels between creating a film and creating a post on social media. Although these are entirely different mediums, both a film and a social media picture require a camera. Retaking a scene until one gets the perfect shot relates to retaking a photo many times until they take one that looks good enough for them to post on the internet for everyone to see. Similar to how filmmakers edit their films, many people, especially influencers, use filters, and even photoshop before posting their photos. Both of these types of media creators have full control over what their audience sees. One of the main reasons that I avoid posting on social media platforms, such as Instagram, is because I find all of the editings to be inauthentic. Social media perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards and impacts the way in which people, especially young girls and women, view themselves. Although I would not want to edit my pictures, there is a significant amount of pressure to look “perfect” on social media, which makes one feel like they have to edit their photos to level the playing field. Since people generally only post the highlights of their life on social media, I sometimes compare my everyday life to other people’s best moments. In class, we discussed Benjamin’s critique of the accessibility of the media. The way in which social media allows people to create an unrealistic narrative of their lives, therefore making young impressionable people insecure, is an example of how highly accessible media can negatively impact the way in which people view both the world and themselves.