Because Digital Railroad enjoys a mix of commercial, editorial and archival imagery, the Marketplace is uniquely equipped to illustrate various generational groups connecting to the world through media. Editorial imagery provides an authentic glimpse of individuals consuming media in their everyday lives, while commercial imagery frequently depicts consumers enjoying the ideal life – in the case of the communication arena older and younger generations are shown bonding over cell phones and computers. Essentially, these images suggest that the latest communication devices are a magic way to forge or strengthen generational bonds.
Our three-part series explores how citizens of these various generational groups are depicted by photojournalists and commercial photographers alike. The first three installments capture distinct generational groups in action: (1) Mature, (2) Baby Boomer (3) GenXers/ Millennials and beyond depicts intergenerational groups where media plays a central role in the image.
Part I: Matures (1909-1945) Nostalgic for Radio/ Exploring the Internet
Matures comprise the current retired generation and tend to be more responsive to direct mail and printed materials and have a nostalgic view of radio as a medium. However, this group's use of the internet is growing rapidly. DaZo Photos of 1940's couple with newspapers reads as a nostalgic image, while Ryan Pyle's image of a senior in modern China using the internet provides a visual contrast illustrating how a single generation has adopted to the seismic shifts in communication experienced during their lifetime.
