First to clarify for the international audience, this post is written from an American perspective but I did my best to make some of the ideas apply broadly to leadership and social change globally. Enjoy :)
We Are All Actors and Models
With a recently acquired digi-cam in hand, I have been impulsively capturing every corner of Mexico City and countless pictures of the other Laidlaw Scholars that are here with me. In the lovely glow of their faces as I show them a new lo-fi shot of us getting late-night churros, I have been reflecting on why people like having their photo taken and my conclusion is that there's not actually much to say. The satisfying power of photography has been enunciated a million times, in a million different ways such as the cliché saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words," or my personal favorite, "there are no bad pictures; that's just how your face looks sometimes," from the virtuoso shutterbug Abraham Lincoln (I have not been able to independently verify that he actually said this). Simply put, photographs are evidence of our existence. They establish the self-actualizing fact that we did something, that we witnessed something, that something happened to us, or to simply prove the crazy story that none of our friends believe. The demand for capturing the highlights and even most mundane parts of our lives has only grown with the digital age. Now we are all models in our own photoshoots and actors in our own films. And like the initial intention of those once exclusive mediums, our phone's camera roll does more than just show, it also tells our story. So in a world where digitalization has made photography more accessible than ever, where storytelling and access to justice is increasingly democratized, I believe it is a much more important question to ask why people don't want their story told. That is to say, maybe politicians, organizers, and all leaders could learn something from photography.
This machine kills fascists as far as I'm concerned.
Speaking of experiences. Watching a World Cup Final at the CDMX Fan Zone is
one I'll never forget.
The Judgement of a Photographically (and Morally) Perfect Society
As a many time wearer of less than perfect haircuts and too many other perceived imperfections to count, I have spent years of my life actively avoiding the camera. It truly felt like every time I showed someone a picture of me, they pointed out my flat and unflattering middle part, weird cheeky smile or too tight T-shirt. In reality, it may have been my own insecurity being imposed onto well intentioned pleasantries but the judgement feels real to anyone who has been uncomfortable with having their photo taken. Even now that I've started wearing nicer clothes, developed a personal style, and stopped getting haircuts at Great Clips (a real barber has been a lifesaver); when a camera comes out I still occasionally feel the same concern for how I stack up against all the photographically perfect guys I see in class, out on the street, and in my Instagram feed. Now if this article was actually only about taking photos, it would probably go in a very different direction to discuss body dysmorphia, excessive self-criticism, and the unreasonable standards of the social media age. But I do think that sometimes bad photos can be blamed on the photographer and more importantly, the mass alienation of people from modern leftist social and political movements is the fault of disconnected leaders.
Without rehashing the critiques of obvious gaffes like Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables" or Joe Biden's "then you ain't black," leaders who want actual change need to emphatically move past the hypocritical and impossibly cosmopolitan purity testing of the Epstein class in full. We might seem morally and ideologically pure in a few frames but we have all supported an incorrect political line at some point and I believe our potential allies deserve the same amount of grace. To be clear, I'm not advocating for the coddling or even tolerance of regressive beliefs within our ranks but leaders cannot simply crop out the parts of society that they don't like. We should also avoid delusionally portraying ourselves like the picture perfect Instagram models of social justice. For example, representatives of capitalist interests should obviously be excluded from the American Left but working class and rural people who have been socialized into becoming prejudiced class traitors cannot simply be ignored if we want to achieve sweeping societal transformation. Like myself and others who have been disparaged for our physical appearance; it is unacceptable that so many working people have been judged, attacked, and excluded from coalitions simply because of ignorant shortcomings in their beliefs and ideology. So what does a photographer do when they have a reluctant or distrusting model?
While most of my cohort mates in Mexico City eagerly smile when the camera comes out; there are a few who subtly try to get out of frame or decline when I ask if they want their picture taken. I don't know the specific reason they act that way but, as someone who spent years scowling every time my parents tried to take a picture of me, I do sympathize with the end result. And by that same standard, I also don't judge my friends and family members who vehemently disagree with my political beliefs after they have been attacked, stereotyped, or simply ignored by the movements and leaders that I agree with. I too get frustrated with anyone who expects me to be perfect! The reality is they were not born into opposing progress but rather have been deluded by morally corrupt religious institutions, corporate news, demagogue politicians, and their own parents who also failed to break the cycle of reactionary propaganda. I believe the solution for both leaders and photographers is a form of radical empathy that works for supporters as much as critics. Over the past two weeks, with a combination of aesthetic candid shots and gentle encouragement, I feel like I have started to gain the trust of my camera shy colleagues and in the process made a moral statement that everyone has a place in the picture even if they're not a model citizen. Leaders can benefit from a similar approach by continuing to show up for their dissidents; working to equally improve their lives and not unequally punish their failings (if in a work-like environment, this means you should also offer them a similar amount of support and guidance). Leftist leaders who can demonstrate that their policies and advocacy benefit all people (besides of course for the usual suspects like violent extremists, corrupt leaders, and the wealthy elite) do the critical work of establishing a moral demand for economic equality that overwhelms conservatism's fear of change. Now I will admit that I am a naive 19 year old and that it is far more difficult than convincing my friends to let me take a photo of them. The good news is that there is also work to be done by leaders who are not ready to directly challenge and educate the opposition.
It helps win people over to your movement if you have killer graphics.
And there are also plenty of movements that operate with a very specific group
in mind like FZLN did. It's still critical to build as much support within
that identity group as possible.
The Disillusionment of An Alienated Generation
To further complicate our analogy, when I was younger and less conscious of my physical appearance, I still was often annoyed when my parents or friends stopped whatever we were doing to take a picture. The culprit this time was not some systemic issue or personal flaw, but rather the fact that I had no one to show the photos too and likely something much more important to devote my time too. Which is probably just the reality of being a young kid who did not like to stand in one place (still don't) and there is actually probably something right with people who choose to be fully immersed in their life rather than trying it to share it with their 971 Instagram followers. But as I have become addicted to my chosen forum to share pictures, inspirational quotes, and stupid brainrot reels; I have gotten a sense of how alienating it can be to feel like you don't have anywhere to express yourself or more importantly, anyone who will comment between one and four 🔥 emojis when you post. The line between personal choice to be in the moment and social withdrawal induced camera shyness is a fine one that gets blurred more everyday in Advanced Economies where many people are increasingly alienated from their labor, have had their relationships shredded by political polarization and algorithms, and are losing their last shred of trust in fundamental institutions.
All leaders across industry, the media, and government (as well as small-town bartenders) have to choose if they will continue to push this chaos for personal gain or commit to rebuilding societal cohesion for the collective good. The harsh truth is that a massive part of society recognizes that these institutions are no longer responsive to the common person (and some believe they never truly were) and that they are effectively powerless. This is the obvious result of governments that have failed to support a basic standard of living and address everyday community issues, politicians who no longer understand the daily struggles of their constituents, and an electoral system that hasn't meaningfully done anything to prevent this dystopian backsliding into runaway Frankenstein Technofeudalism. Hell, we might not be too far from a world where no one has pictures because they can't afford the camera to take them nor the digital storage subscription to keep them (mostly joking). Not having anyone to share photos with is fine albeit a bit sad, but when a large majority of a nation believes that their leaders no longer care about their story, that is a revolutionary problem. The good news is that this mass alienation of society provides a critical opportunity for working-class leaders to grow movements and dramatically transform our society. So what does a photographer do when they have a model who doesn't care about the bigger picture or rather believes no one else does?
The answer is probably even more obvious than my previous question, get them to buy back in! But that is likely far more difficult to achieve than the challenge of spreading leftist political education. The successful demonstration of leftist policies like under Mayor Mamdani in New York are a good start but the reality is that anti-establishment leaders have to be able to show that they truly care about their constituents before they'll ever get the chance to lead in our establishment loving society. You're off to a good start if you actually live amongst the people you want to represent (although that's likely not necessary if your name is Tommy Tuberville) but I believe it is even more critical to recognize that political leadership goes far beyond elections and policies. Unlike my younger self, a good photographer knows that pictures are more than just millions of pixels on a screen (or a complicated chemical reaction for those of you still using film). They capture us accomplishing our dreams, being amongst the people we love, and again are validation of the most important parts of our identity. They capture the feelings and experiences that politics enables or disables. Regardless of whether the people around us have fully withdrawn from society or only from politics due to the illusion of happy Apoliticism (a privilege that will cost you eventually); leaders can only win them back by engaging in our communities and in essence taking the same pictures that our neighbors do. This is a topic in of itself worthy of probably a thousand essays but most importantly, whether you're a photographer or leader, consistency is key! Always show up when help is needed, ask how your neighbors are doing, assist them with carrying their groceries, and put an authentic spotlight on the photos, the stories, the people that motivate you to lead. Only then, will people begin to entrust us with their vote and their presence again.
Eating lunch alongside the Rennueva Employees is a great way to build community
in the same way that all leaders, organizers, and activists should!
Damn that was a long ass yap... huge shout out if you actually read this all the way!
Peace and Love,
Spencer