Apathie (Erfurt / IX1155/82)
by Michael Anhalt

Nomination Kees Scherer Prijs 2009
ISBN 978-90-814095-1-3

Apathie Pyjamocracy- how snapshots confuse our lives
by Meike Eggers

Publisher Research Group Photography, St.Joost, Breda 2009 ISBN / EAN 978-90-76861-21-0

‘Since the 1990s the Internet, in combination with digital depictions, has caused a radical change in human communication. Amateur snapshots have become the most prevalent images of the 21st century. Today hobbyists publish photos and films on diverse Internet sites like personal weblogs or portals such as Flickr or YouTube. The phenomenon of private individuals contributing (visual) information has generally been described as citizen journalism, personal publishing or grassroots media. It includes almost everything imaginable ranging from private online diaries to comments on world politics.
The precise source, context or aim of that footage remains for the most part unclear, unproven and unorganized. The visual anarchy this causes is immense. It is colourful, exhausting, trivial, exciting and shockingly straight.

According to Winston Churchill ‘democracy is the worst form of government except for all those
others that have been tried.’ For the Internet a similar situation is true. It is not a real information democracy, but, despite all the disadvantages and restrictions, the most democratic
medium to exist so far. The Internet offers space simultaneously for the most diverse views of our world. Ultimately it leaves us behind in a mess of human realities. We are almost free to choose our own truth. But truth only exists if you share it...'

You can order this publication via the Research Group Photography, St.Joost Breda -->