Trading The Beautiful For The New

I read a really interesting blog post by Dori Monson where he asked a very provocative question. It was a question that I believe put into question the richness of our culture... at least the future richness. Here it is...

"It's one of the most famous photographs ever. On V-J Day - August 14th, 1945, a joyous sailor dipped down a nurse in Times Square and kissed her.

The picture was featured on the cover of Life Magazine. One of the central figures in that photo - kissee - Edith Sharin - died Wednesday at the age of 91.

But that makes me wonder: with newspapers and magazines struggling as industries, and as they move to digital platforms, will our generation produce iconic, lasting photographs?

Some of the most famous images were taken long ago. The Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima, the napalmed child in Vietnam, the Beatles crossing Abbey Road... I can't cite too many iconic photographs from the last decade. The Falling Man on 9/11 being a notable exception.

In many, if not most, events, video has replaced still photos as the chronicle of the moment. What do you think, especially with newspapers and magazines dying, will the years to come produce memorable, lasting still photos?"

The idea of losing the iconic photograph rummages up the feelings of movie "The Last Samurai". Are we willing to trade the beautiful for the new?