Living the Disconnected Life

“Internal and external forces are at work urging us to look away from the reality of what is happening. Television, iPods, cell phones, and all the newest electronic games and gadgets engulf us with distractions and mind-numbing entertainment. The use of antidepressants, substance abuse, and suicide rates, especially among young people are dramatically on the rise. The World Health Organization reports that depression has reached epidemic proportions and is predicted to be the second leading cause of death by 2020. Nearly four million people across the globe have plugged into Second Life, a virtual world in which to live and buy property far from the global crisis of our fractured Earth. Many of us seem to be doing everything we can to shut off awareness of the real world’s plight” (Macy, 18).

During the last month I have been living the disconnected life. More specifically I have been living in the world of other peoples’ disconnection. Almost everyday I have photographed a person from my local area in a scene of his or her particular form of zoning out. I have also been talking non-stop about the project and constantly recruiting new participants. Just now I returned from Tescos photographing Kirsty as she walked through the isles in a daze. Yesterday I photographed Heather lying in a dark alley filled with trash, a bottle of beer at her lips. I listened as she talked about the anger, which led her to alcohol, the feeling of hopelessness at the state of the world and her life as a frustrated activist. Many of her friends in the movement died from substance abuse. Before Heather I photographed Ruby at her computer, a dancer she feels disconnected by the static pose of computer life. On Monday I listened as Carolyn talked about how her feelings of sadness led her to eat and to obesity. Even on the weekend at a party I was still in the realm of disconnection photographing Jo feeling lonely surrounded by people having fun. When preparing for the party and she asked me what to wear and I said wear what makes you feel most uncomfortable.

The grind of nine to five wears down Kerrigan, and Galen feels spaced out when driving, in the in-between spaces of travel. Gill feels trapped by having to shop and look professional while at the same time knowing the dirty underworld of slave labour and pollution that she supports by shopping at the cheap stores she can afford. Avalon feels small and insignificant in the city and for her the photograph within the parking garage represents the ugliness of urban life. Faced with feelings of insecurity Gabrielle turns to chocolate and smoking, a mobile phone keeping her company, while Gail turns to TV and snack food to distract herself. Are we, like Joanna Macy writes, trying to shut ourselves off from the problems of the world? Or are we just trying to survive the best we can?

It has been both emotionally intense and surprisingly engaging collaborating on this art project. I have brought attention to the places of inattention in the participant’s lives. My examining his or her disconnected moments it seems that the person begins to see the potential to do things differently or at least to bring more presence into these moments so that they feel responsibility instead of victimization.

My original intention was to photograph half new people and half people who participated in Essence. I have found however that I chose people to participate in Essence because I felt they were connected and quite aware of who they really are. Many of the people I chose are highly optimistic and have a way of lighting up the room. While these people obviously have moments of disconnection, many found it hard to think of any moments when asked. Others chose moments such as lying on the couch daydreaming, which is more tame than what I had in mind. I have therefore decided to ask more new people than Essence participants. I don’t want to force disconnection while there are people who are used to plumbing the depths of their souls and who are prepared to show truly painful or disturbing moments of disconnection. This honesty is a powerful mirror for us all.