Looking Through A Magnifying Glass

Have you ever seen a typical Gen Z post a photo in Instagram? Usually as Gen Z's we find ourselves zooming in our cameras or cropping out photos to get that perfect frame.

In John Berger's Ways of Seeing, Berger expounds the subject of Perspective. Berger showcased original, classic artworks that are repurposed into different paintings by changing it's focal point - thus changing/ "destroying" the meanings from it's original one. But does repurposing of a reproduced classical art work makes it lose it's original meaning and monetary value of the original work? I believe it does, but at the same time, the classical original artwork would be still something high of value to priceless. Making reproduced images of original artworks will create works accessible to collectors and the population.

To put it in a different perspective; Nike makes a shoe and a replica shoe artist makes an exact replica of the shoe Nike just released. Nike's shoe would still be of high value and original but at the same time the replica makes almost the same amount of money even if it isn't the real thing; But what makes replicas valuable? People want to experience the original shoe through a replica because it is more financially practical and more accessible to the majority. It's getting an experience even if it isn't the real thing.

Furthermore, Berger displayed how effortless we can manipulate paintings through different focal points, silence and music. Just like my example of Social Gen Z's, we tend to look at life differently as older generations especially to what we believe are beautiful or aesthetic. In my example, I changed an awkward photo to something "cute" looking as it showcases symmetry and balance.

If a single crop of an image can change the way we can see an image, can we apply the method of cropping in our everyday lives? If I looked through a magnifying glass all throughout life, will I be able to value life as a whole even if I am unable to see the big picture?

Now, this question gave me different emotions as it gives me two answers; yes and no. Yes, because I am an overthinker, anxious and observant person. I tend to look at life through details and this makes me value each day, hour, or second of my life. Awareness is something I can proudly say I'm gifted with and looking through a magnifying class was always my way of living. But What if, No? I am told to look at the bigger picture instead of overthinking a single detail. What if I put away my magnifying class and start looking at the big picture? If I stick to the big picture - lacking the gift of awareness - I believe that I will lose the concept of "valuing" life.