It sure is, but modern tech greatly increased the phenomenon. Old tech made photography way less interesting for narcissistic people. It was hard, expensive, took time to develop, you most likely had no audience if you weren't a professional. Now you can take a snapshit on your budget dslr, send it via bluetooth to your ipad, edit it right there and put it on instagram for free, some even get paid if they include a watch or a pair of shoe in the pic...
Sure in the bunch you have a few artistic people, but most of it is the same exact picture of the same exact thing. All of it for imaginary internet points. We don't have to watch black mirror anymore we're living in a lame and slow version of it already. Comparing Van Gogh to that is a bit of a stretch.
It sure is, but modern tech greatly increased the phenomenon. Old tech made photography way less interesting for narcissistic people. It was hard, expensive, took time to develop, you most likely had no audience if you weren't a professional. Now you can take a snapshit on your budget dslr, send it via bluetooth to your ipad, edit it right there and put it on instagram for free, some even get paid if they include a watch or a pair of shoe in the pic...
Sure in the bunch you have a few artistic people, but most of it is the same exact picture of the same exact thing. All of it for imaginary internet points. We don't have to watch black mirror anymore we're living in a lame and slow version of it already. Comparing Van Gogh to that is a bit of a stretch.