Re this astounding photo of an unmolested cop methodically macing a row of peaceful seated demonstrators at UC Davis: I was struck by a sideshow that in effect gave us the show. It's this: Almost every single sideline spectator captured in the photograph is photographing it. This phenomenon first struck me while watching videos of the post-election uprising in Iran in June 2009: every confrontation between demonstrators and Basij was parenthesized by a half-moon of demonstrators holding up cell phones or digital cameras. Perhaps a year earlier, I was at a wedding where half the audience rose to photograph the "I do."
I record, therefore we are
I record, therefore we are
I record, therefore we are
Re this astounding photo of an unmolested cop methodically macing a row of peaceful seated demonstrators at UC Davis: I was struck by a sideshow that in effect gave us the show. It's this: Almost every single sideline spectator captured in the photograph is photographing it. This phenomenon first struck me while watching videos of the post-election uprising in Iran in June 2009: every confrontation between demonstrators and Basij was parenthesized by a half-moon of demonstrators holding up cell phones or digital cameras. Perhaps a year earlier, I was at a wedding where half the audience rose to photograph the "I do."