Mobile and Socio-cultural Implications for Photography

Question:

What are the cultural differences we see in the use of mobile devices according to this article?
Do you agree?
Have you had different experience if you are from other parts of the world, or have recently visited other parts of the world?

CNN-Cultural differences/Mobile

Do you think there exist cultural differences in the way people of different cultures choose a profile picture for Facebook? Read the article below, and with a small group, discuss your thoughts about what drives facebook profile selections. Think about Facebook Friends you have who might be from outside this area or country. Look at their Profile Pictures. Are they different than yours?

Facebook Photos May Reflect Unconscious Cultural Differences

Classwork week of March 23-30
Please make a Facebook Photo Album this week that describes your American Cultural Heritage as a high school student or American Teenager. If you are not American by citizenship, then for now, assume that you are immersed in American culture and complete the assignment from that point of view. What is it like to be in the United States as a person from outside the US. You would have a unique viewpoint of American teen culture and experience from that viewpoint. You will have an opportunity to greatly explore your own unique cultural heritage next week.

Your album must have a consistent overall theme and should consist of at least 10 quality photos that demonstrate excellent composition, mastery of camerwork in terms of exposure, and consistent and clear message.

This week you will shoot photographs in class and during school, after school that depict scenes of the typical American teen from a suburban neighborhood such as Saratoga-Los Gatos.  This might include:

1. Conceptual themes about stress, homework, academic pressure
2. Conceptual representations about other themes you would like to explore including teen identity, growing up, moving on, influencing others positivly, etc
3. Friendship
4. Peer Pressure
5. Food
6. Entertainment
7. After School enjoyment/ activities
8. Examples of homework/projects
9. Dances, plays, music, sports etc
10. Anything else

You will share your album with the class by sharing an album link in the comments section of this blogspot. To find the share link for your facebook photo album, click on a photo, find the little editing pencil icon in the upper right of your photo, it will have a share link URL. Copy that and paste below.

Homework:
You will begin the creation of a Facebook photo album that tells the story of your own cultural identity. Start by thinking about your cultural origins. Some of you were born in other countries, some of you are second generation. Some of you probably have never been to another country. Even though I am 5th generation Irish, I still feel cultural connections to an Irish heritage. When I first visited Ireland 25 years ago I felt a deep connection to the country, although I had never been. I loved the music, the laid back attitudes, the humor, the celtic art and the people. I also loved the countryside and the land. I felt a connection to a place I was not born, my parents and grandparents were not born. But still I had a connection. If you do not have a connection to your original cultural background, this is your chance to do some research. Some things to shoot might be:

1. Clothing
2. Food
3. Sheet music examples
4. Differences in language or text/type for alphabet
5. Differences in worship
6. Memorabelia from trips to countries with cultural ties
7. Old photos that could be scanned and merged with your own photo
8. What about taking an old family photo and merging yourself into it?

Over the weekend collect old photos to bring to school for scanning (if you have them). Also shoot photos that you can bring to school that describe/depict cultural heritage, such as clothes, objects, food. Bring to school Monday a collection of photos to work with. You should have at least 2 photos for scanning, and 6-8 photos you have shot for editing/cropping.

We will work on a Facebook photo album the entire following week that explores cultural identity and storytelling.

If you are unsure of your cultural heritage, respond by connecting to the heritage you feel most closely associated. For some of you, this could be your American Heritage. What does it mean to be American?

See me for any questions you might have.