The Art of New Technologies

The look of Instagram

As someone who has studied media intensively, I'm fairly certain I muse over media and its uses and effects more than the average person. Lately, I've been thinking about blogging, Instagram and other ways that creative types use free internet-based tools to tell stories about their lives—and how using these tools seems to create a strange effect in which those who use them become immersed in them, to the point that it becomes difficult to remember a time before Facebook, and instills an (incorrect) understanding that everyone uses these tools to the same extent. That is, if they use them at all.

A couple months ago, I was hanging out with my very fabulous, smart and talented friend Cortney, and we started discussing how creative types use social media. At some point in our conversation, Instagram came up. I was rather shocked to hear the admission that Cortney believed that "blogging was dead" and Instagram was where it was at.

Now, of course, we were discussing creative types, such as fashion hounds, crafters and artists, whose use of Instagram versus a blog made more sense than a writer, particularly one who has a soft spot for rambling narratives (ahem, me).

Initially, this discussion left me feeling disheartened for two reasons.

One, I love blogging. To me, blogging represents that perfect intersection of image and text, and, other than the sheer time commitment, is free and accessible to anyone with access to a computer and internet access. It is akin to being able to make a magazine, for the common people.

Two, I don't own an i-phone or android. My uncle actually made fun of me during the holidays last year for having a flip phone. My lack of a "fancy" phone has as much to do with expense as it has to do with a need to have some distance between myself and my "online life." Not to say that I will never get said type of phone, but for the meantime, my crappy flip phone with terrible T9 will do just fine. So I thought.

After my conversation with Cortney, I let seep in what I was facing. As someone who enjoys social media and has worked professionally utilizing such tools, who was I to snub my nose at Instagram? Even if I was perhaps...jealous...why not figure out how to utilize Instagram in a way that would supplement my other online activities...including blogging?

Fortunately, I am resourceful and my boyfriend's father worked for Intel for years, which means he often is gifted with fun Apple products. Like an i-touch. With his permission, I circumvented the whole "not having a smart phone barrier" and created an Instagram account using his i-touch. Of course, I can't link it my Twitter or Facebook accounts (as his personal accounts are the ones hosted on the device), but I did figure out a nifty way of linking my feed to the C.L.A.P. Facebook page. This killed two birds with one stone—I was able to figure out a way to access my photos for whatever use I may have for them, and I added a new visual dimension to our page (jury is still out on whether or not anyone looks at it, but that at least allows me time to hone my new Instagram chops).

I have to admit I am a novice at the Instagram. Not only is using the app more cumbersome than usual given my unique shared device situation, but I am still getting the hang of how to frame and filter my images. Maybe I am using the app "incorrectly," in that a lot of the photos I take are for specific purposes that may not make sense to whoever is checking out my feed (i.e. random photos of thrifted and/or busted clothing for Operation Sparkle, ones of flowers in my backyard for a future C.L.A.P. newsletter, and a lot of my dogs (this, I am told, is a common theme in Instagram, so at least I'm not totally off my rocker)), but isn't that what the whole purpose of adapting to new technologies (and vice versa) is about—finding new ways to make it work for you? I'd like to think so.

In the meantime, I am working on securing my own i-touch (no need for the extra phone plan!), and perfecting my own Instagram "voice." I'll get the hang of it one of these days, but in the meantime, it is fun figuring it out.