Humans of New York (HONY) is the result of technological changes such as camera phones and social media that so strongly has influenced the way we produce, consume and reproduce photography....Show moreHumans of New York (HONY) is the result of technological changes such as camera phones and social media that so strongly has influenced the way we produce, consume and reproduce photography. Digital network interactions that reshape modes of socializing contributes to dehumanization, while at the same time the easiness and rapidness with which photographs can be reproduced provoke the emergence of modern iconoclasm. Unintentionally, HONY counter-reacts both by creating a sense of human community that avoids visual saturation blindness. Its use of traditional photography has lead to position it within some of the photographic genre debates due to its users’ perception and reception. This professionalization of an amateur photographic project represents a problem for the academic field. The lack of an academic background prevents this type of photography from representing truthfulness ethically. Unconsciously, HONY perpetuates stereotypes and manipulates its viewers by appealing to sentimentalism, while at the same time falls into the tradition of the victim. This issues point at the fact of an urgent need for theorizing and conceptualizing this type of photography that despite being amateur is perceived within the professional photographic practice.Show less
