The original report of this photo was to illustrate how modern social media had made people more concerned with their own appearance, and online “fame” by spreading selfies with famous individuals, rather than enjoying the moment itself.
It seems the crowd isn’t as concerned with seeing Hillary Clinton herself, but rather trying to impress their friends by getting a portion of their own faces in the picture with her.
As Cnet reports:
There’s a reason: this astounding picture posted on Sunday to Twitter by Hillary For America design lead Victor Ng. He credited the shot to the photographer currently working on the Clinton campaign, Barbara Kinney.
As Hillary Clinton stands on a podium and waves, not one of the throng in front of her seems to be facing her.
Instead, everyone has turned their backs and raised their phones in order to get a little of themselves — perhaps just their hair or their upper forehead — into the shot.
But was everyone really just consumed by taking a selfie with Hillary Clinton, or was the crowd informed that you can only look at Medusa through a reflection without turning to stone?
Here is the original tweet of this “historic” photo, which I have no doubt will only add to Clinton’s legacy of her standing on step stools to increase her own height, as it has been reported that she will do with her custom made podium at the first debate.
2016, ya’ll. pic.twitter.com/M0AZceVagQ
— Victor Ng (@victomato) September 25, 2016