The expression, “everyone will get their 15 minutes of fame” is attributed to the American artist Andy Warhol. He made this statement in the late 1960s, expressing the idea that in the age of mass media and celebrity culture, almost anyone could have a brief moment of public recognition or attention.
The phrase has since become a popular cultural expression, often used to refer to the notion that fame or notoriety can be temporary and fleeting for individuals in today’s social media-saturated society.
This was over fifty years ago. Did he even really know the profoundness of that comment and what was to come from it?
Enter, the Smartphone.
People can’t go anywhere without consistently looking at their device. People in their vehicles, walking, at the park, restaurants, clubs, gym, sporting events and even in front of their smart tv, face glued to the smartphone.
The television and computer were tests. The problem was those products stayed in one place for the most part. As the consumer we were out of reach when we left our humble abode. With the smartphone that is always by our side, doing almost everything for you, they have consumed us.
Today, it seems that almost everyone is on the social media train. Most people become voyeurs while other are the performers, looking to cash in on their fifteen minutes.
The influence of social media can sometimes lead to excessive device use which is never good and certain patterns of attention-seeking behaviors. The shock that once was prevalent on social media has dissipated tremendously as the performance need to get more psychotic to shock the viewers interest to get likes.
It is getting more difficult to stand out as attention seekers push the boundaries further and deeper into craziness by engaging in provocative, dangerous or controversial behavior, or adopting extreme political stances to gain that attention, grabbing content and fire their flames of propaganda.
The phenomenon of individuals, particularly women, seeking attention by posting suggestive or revealing content on social media by just shaking their booty for a time or being almost naked to get attention is astounding. Is it because it’s all they want/have to offer? Get it while it’s hot.
The amount of people I encounter daily taking cellphone glamour shots or videos of themselves is ridiculous. Some even bring a change of clothing for the shoot. Maybe it’s because I work on “look at me, look at me” Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. What are they trying to accomplish? It’s ridiculous.
I see all types, dressed to the nines, posing, then running to the phone to examine the photos and then having more pictures taken with different poses and outfits. They are glued to their social media devices and ignoring the world around them unless they see it in their glamour shots.
The, my life is better than yours scenario continues it’s loop over and over on these social media sites.
I’m not writing about the people on vacation just taking pictures for old time sake. The proof is not in the pudding, it’s right in front of us.
People sitting across from each other at a restaurant, head down staring at the screen while waiting for their food. No talking unless they need to share what is on their screen with the other person. Then the food arrives and they take individual pictures with their food.
School events are now people watching their children through the screen of their tablets, iPods and cellphones causing obstruction and blocking those behind them from seeing their child around the barriers.
And the worst of these are the daredevils, videoing themselves doing crazy, dangerous stunts to get that most anticipated viral video to launch their fifteen minutes. Putting themselves in harms way, yet for another click.
Is it all just a desire for validation or is it because of that profound question we all wonder about, “why am I here?” Or could it be that, “what will my legacy be?”
Have these devices made us more narcissistic and ego driven or is it a magnifying glass over the behavior that was always here?
It started with television. The television was created to sell soap. They weren’t sure people would stare at a little screen with all the world was around them. But it worked.
It was to be used to sell products to the masses, however they had to create programming in-between the commercials to get people to watch.
Programming…
programming…
programming…. It’s all a conundrum as we go deeper into the abyss.
c 2023 Chu The Cud
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Chu The Cud 