SARAH GOBELL

Fascination Artist Statement

I was inspired by the word “fascination” for this photoshoot. The word fascination can refer to having a strong power or interest towards something. My first thought to this word was the power technology has over people and how they are drawn to it. A fascination can be the beginning of an obsession, which is the idea used in this photo. Technology attracts and draws in people, much like a fascination, which makes it addicting and easy to become obsessed with. My picture represents three girls sitting around a television, so fascinated and intrigued it’s like they are being hypnotized. The girls are mindlessly watching the TV as most people nowadays do quite often.

 

I was inspired for this concept by the changing of technology over the years. Kids are becoming more addicted and lured to any form of technology. Many times I have even found myself watching television or on my cell phone and almost in a trance, not hearing if other people talk to me, or aware of what is happening around me. The process of this photo required characters to sit around a television and a hypnotic swirl for the TV screen. I purposefully sat the characters on the ground in front of the TV as opposed to a couch, to show they are really focused. One girl is mindlessly holding a TV remote and their body language shows they are all staring in the direction of the TV as if in a trance. Finally, I put a slight effect on the TV screen to make it appear as if it was popping out more and the hypnotic spiral was more pronounced.

 

I learned a few things while shooting for this photo. It reminded me how scary it can be to think about how much technology controls our life, and how much time we spend using it even in one day. People are truly fascinated by technology and if new models and ideas keep being created I don't think that will ever change.