Connectivity and Originality

“We use conversations with each other to learn how to have conversations with ourselves. So a flight from conversation can really matter because it can compromise our capacity for self reflection.” -Sherry Turkle (Professor at MIT)

I resonated most with Sherry Turkle's discussion of the disconnective qualities of social media and technology. I fall into her category of those who have lost a piece of themselves by being locked into their devices too much. I truly think that society would be better, happier, and more ORIGINAL if we depended less upon social media.

"We expect more from technology and less from each other"

We are constantly pushing technology to provide us with more, but what about pushing ourselves? What about pushing our peers? If we expect technology to give us everything we need, how can there be originality at all. Everything is just posted on the internet for everyone to see and gather inspiration from. This is great, and I think the internet is a great source of inspiration, but we must push ourselves beyond that. 

"If we don’t have connection we don’t feel like ourselves"

This is so true, and I definitely fall into the category of someone who does this. Without that connectivity through Instagram, Twitter, etc. we don't know how to stand on our own two feet. I think that this really attributes to the fact that many are searching for who they are as individuals. Many are not confident in what they have to offer without that constant instant gratification of "likes" and thumbs up on social media.

"Solitude is where you find yourself"

This was the most important factor that Turkle touched on in her TED Talk. So many people in my generation are afraid of being alone. They don't know how to be alone. I truly believe that this is where the most originality lies. Solitude equals self reflection which equals greater knowledge of oneself which therefore yields more original ideas. Originality is rooted within ourselves.

"If we don’t teach our children how to be alone, they will only know how to be lonely"

So what does this say about the originality of the next generation? The responsibility is put on us to raise up the next generation in a way that they are not so dependent upon technology. As technology advances, we must continue to maintain face to face relationships and conversation as well as knowing the benefits of solitude because this is where true originality comes from.

TIME TO TALK

"Justin Bower paints his subjects as de-stabilized, fractured post-humans in a nexus of interlocking spatial systems. His paintings problematize how we define ourselves in this digital and virtual age while suggesting the impossibility of grasping such a slippery notion."

Artwork by Justin Bower