Long Lens, Short Hands: Digital Camera Discussion Forums And The Domination of Tech-Talk Over The Art of Photography

VACEK, Patrik and Jana KRÁTKÁ. Long Lens, Short Hands: Digital Camera Discussion Forums And The Domination of Tech-Talk Over The Art of Photography. In 6th International Conference Cyberspace. 2008.

Basic information

• Original name: Long Lens, Short Hands: Digital Camera Discussion Forums And The Domination of Tech-Talk Over The Art of Photography
• Name (in English): Long Lens, Short Hands: Digital Camera Discussion Forums And The Domination of Tech-Talk Over The Art of Photography
• Authors: VACEK, Patrik and Jana KRÁTKÁ.
• Edition: 6th International Conference Cyberspace, 2008.

Other information

• Original language: Czech
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 50300 5.3 Education
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Organization unit: Faculty of Education
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

Bigger, better, faster and more rugged seem to be one of the key words of contemporary tech-oriented vocabulary of camera market as well as those who own and frequently visit camera technology discussion groups. Given the classification by the brand, model or even by the subjective feeling of handling any given camera there rises a group of users that define and identify themselves primarily with their dedication to the mere fact of „ownership“ and to a much lesser degree to their craftsmanship with a camera they purchased To photography, which is often considered the most massively practicioned creative activity, the coming of affordable digital cameras (both point-and-shoot and DSLRs) gave only a new momentum. In this paper we would like to focus on a number of communication stereotypes and verbal gaps and routines related to everyday „camera talks“ within the most significant pohotographic forums. As such they can be preliminarily divided into three main thematic groups: 1) Verbal and visual technological splendor/fetishism/tuning as shared and articulated within of an owner's astonishment of a recently purchased camera (e. g. YouTube presentations of unpacking, handling and manifestation of rapidly shooting DSLR camera bodies); 2) Animosity, flamewars and disputes on re-branding; 3) Humor as a narrative approach in the serious amateur's chat (irony, false introductions, spoofs and sarcastic reinterpretations).

Abstract (in English)

Bigger, better, faster and more rugged seem to be one of the key words of contemporary tech-oriented vocabulary of camera market as well as those who own and frequently visit camera technology discussion groups. Given the classification by the brand, model or even by the subjective feeling of handling any given camera there rises a group of users that define and identify themselves primarily with their dedication to the mere fact of „ownership“ and to a much lesser degree to their craftsmanship with a camera they purchased To photography, which is often considered the most massively practicioned creative activity, the coming of affordable digital cameras (both point-and-shoot and DSLRs) gave only a new momentum. In this paper we would like to focus on a number of communication stereotypes and verbal gaps and routines related to everyday „camera talks“ within the most significant pohotographic forums. As such they can be preliminarily divided into three main thematic groups: 1) Verbal and visual technological splendor/fetishism/tuning as shared and articulated within of an owner's astonishment of a recently purchased camera (e. g. YouTube presentations of unpacking, handling and manifestation of rapidly shooting DSLR camera bodies); 2) Animosity, flamewars and disputes on re-branding; 3) Humor as a narrative approach in the serious amateur's chat (irony, false introductions, spoofs and sarcastic reinterpretations).

Links

• GP406/08/P176, research and development project: Name: Vzory pohyblivého obrazu: recepce filmu a audiovizuální kultury u současné české mládeže

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Patterns of Moving Images: Film and Audiovisual Reception Among Contemporary Czech Young People