Copyright @ 2016 Nancy Barra, "Future Ahead", oil on canvas, 16"x 23.5", from:Nancy Barra Contemporary Art/Arte Contemporáneo
Millennials are the Net generation, on-line savvy
and immersed in social media. The average Millennial has 250 Facebook friends.
They send an average of 50 texts per day and how many have not posted a selfie?
Millennials are fascinated by the digital revolution
and that sense of being connected to everybody and everything in a society,
which paradoxically fosters isolation. Millennials feel the
illusion of connectedness provided by digital media.
Copyright © 2017 Antoine Geiger, in:
http:http-//www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/11/cellphone-attention-antoine-geiger/
They find ever fewer opportunities to speak
directly to another human being or to laugh together at a joke in the same physical
shared space. LOL.
On the subway, most people are curved over their
digital phones like an army of robots, looking at the small screens and connecting
with others, reading, or just passing time with electronic entertainment.
Copyright © 2017 Vladimir Kasak in: :http://breakbird.com/15-brilliant-illustrations-that-reflect-the-craziness-of-our-modern-world/
If you would have seen this scenario just twenty
years ago, you would have thought that all these people had a serious mental
illness. Not anymore. This is the norm of social conduct in public places these
days. The tiny minority without a smart phone in their hands all the time,
those are the wierdos of today.
Copyright @ 2010 Nancy Barra,"Pensive", pastel on La Carte paper, 16" x 12", from: Nancy Barra Contemporary Art/Arte Contemporáneo
I think that Millennials sense that something is
profoundly wrong with this trend. I am sure that some understand that something
very basic is missing in their immersion in digital social networks: it is the
increasing lack of kinesthetic and real human touch and contact. They seem to
be losing the ability to simply look in another person's eyes when listening or
expressing ideas or emotions face-to-face.
Copyright © 2014 Bansky, in:"Banksy’s New Mural Mocks Smart Phone Distracted Lovers" from website:mymodernmet.com
So, what happens when, behind this facade of
digital connectivity and social "popularity", Millennials feel alone and scared in the
present and of the future?
Copyright © 2017, Ruth Ostrow in: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/columnists/ruth-ostrow/loneliness-can-strike-even-those-in-relationships/news-story/708d1f793e16dd71c56d102dad4c6c32
Like the rest of us, they see the possibility of climate catastrophe, an erratic job market, poor quality of food, air and water, ongoing health problems, dependency on pharmaceutical companies, increasing domination of world corporations in their daily lives and continuous turmoil and violence around the planet. Fear sets in.
Copyright © 2017 Nancy Barra "Fearful", Watercolor and pastel on paper, 16" x 12"from:Nancy Barra Contemporary Art/Arte Contemporáneo
All what is going on paints a picture of the present and the future in dark colors and unpredictable strokes.
It would be the only extinction event where we, as a civilization, will be the creators of it and, at the same time, the victims. It would be the last act of human civilization: a collective Hara-Kiri grand finale, probably recorded digitally on every iPhone around the planet.
copyright © 2010, Big picture club: http://bigpictures.club/resize.php
img=http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/061/1/f/Earth_Cry_by_SoolArts.jpg
Can we overcome this predicted self-destructive destiny? Can we stop the course of history by effectively opposing the powerful Orwellian forces that are leading us to our demise as a civilization? Can we really do that in a short period of time? Can we effectively use digital technology to help us achieve this?
Will our young people have the courage to do it for all of our children?
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| Copyright © 2016 Matzav.com in: http://matzav.com/boo-hoo-report-says-children-of-color-are-traumatized-by-2016-campaign-the-trump-effect/ |
The Boom generation has been unable to answer these questions. Millennials have the next word and we hope it is decisive, inspiring and profoundly human.
Dedicated to Johnnie and Alissita
Thanks for sharing, Nancy!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy for creating this wonderful blog! It is very inspirational.
ReplyDeleteAs an X-Generation Survivor, I believe our efforts need to keep moving forward in a "Left foot forward, right foot, left foot, then repeat," fashion. It is so easy to destroy it all with one false push of the Big Red Button, and still, even if so, everything would stay the same. We will not have learnt a thing regardless. Same old, same old over and over again.
The only force that truly changes things is love, and through this caring for each other, all the Earth's children and for Mother Earth itself. The way will guide us in it's promises when we walk the path of love.
I hope Millennials understand that they are stronger and more courageous than they realize. May they use these qualities to fortify their faith in the everpresent divine power of Love. May they open doors towards Life, Peace, Health and Spiritual Growth previously kept shut.
We love our children, may they walk forth together, hand in hand, strengthened and shielded by the light of Love and Compassion.
Dear Loreto,
ReplyDeleteYour comments are profoundly beautiful and I fully agree with what you say. I hope our capacity to love grows everyday so we can overcome all the obstacles ahead. Thanks!