![]() The process of taking photos on a film camera is also a refreshing way to break from the perfectionistic environment of social media. Throwing away a photo feels like more of a loss than deleting a photo from a device, the same way that deleting an email is easier than throwing away a handwritten note. Photography has especially seen a resurging interest in analog formats, not because it is necessary, but because it is a delightful experience. Our devices demand our attention for every type of media we consume - from music streaming services to e-books - but allowing the same screens to hold your attention for every form of media is a choice. Reclaiming antiquated ways of doing things is a way to enjoy the process rather than solely caring about the results, and experiences are valuable in and of themselves. Still, the world feels too fast sometimes. “Undergoing a physical process to listen to music, develop photos, read a book, or write a letter forces us to be creative with intention…” They also allow us to create intangible photos and documents, freeing up physical deskspace. We have nearly infinite access to digital content and a world of information all at our fingertips. Our devices save us precious time with apps that can shoot, edit, and share photos in seconds. Of course, without our phones and computers, we wouldn’t have the power and privilege of efficient creativity. Analog methods of creativity simply feel more like living than using the same digital screens we check our emails and go to Zoom lectures with. Undergoing a physical process to listen to music, develop photos, read a book, or write a letter forces us to be creative with intention, to actively take up space and use more of our senses to create and consume media. These actions are outdated, but we return to them as an escape from instant gratification. By filling a disposable camera, or by putting a record on, we choose to break up the monotony of our online lives in favor of analog creativity. It’s all we know, and it can be exhausting. As digital natives, we do not have a choice but to stay up-to-date with the latest digital means of streamlining our lives. Young adults do, indeed, have far too much screen time, but that is how we do school work, take up remote internships in a pandemic, and stay social. Sometimes, I want to take crappy film photos on a camera without a screen and be excited to receive an envelope of grainy memories two weeks later. While it is true that I am dependent on the internet - and quite lazy at times - I do not always crave speed and efficiency in every facet of my life. So why is it that there are thousands of popular TikTok accounts teaching kids how to shoot on a film camera? And why would a record player be a best-selling item at Urban Outfitters? Older generations, as they begrudgingly adopt new technologies, often insist that we are lazy and dependent on instant gratification. Millennials and Generation Z are commonly known as generations of digital natives, meaning they grew up consuming media through pixels on a screen.
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