A Picture of a Picture

In the article “When the Camera Takes Over for the Eye”, by Roberta Smith, she discusses the growing need for people to photograph paintings and photographs in museums, galleries, and exhibits all over the world. I agree with Smith when she says that the need to take pictures is simply the desire to have evidence that you were there to witness it. By doing this I feel it does not allow people to utilize their memory effectively. It does not allow the person to use words to explain the beauty of the art to another person, thus not allowing the recipient the use of their imagination.
I don’t think showing a person a picture of a picture makes them want to see the exhibit with their own eyes any more than if it was explained to them. The amazing part about seeing something with your own eyes is the existence of memory, and how memory can spark nostalgia. Some may think that viewing a photograph can spark nostalgia just the same as a memory, but can the true beauty or essence of that photo be captured? Will you remember the feeling that you had when you first viewed that work of art? Or were you so caught up in documenting it you did not take time to notice, observe, and absorb the very image in front of you?
I feel like this generation is going to have terrible memories, because we can so easily have access to those memories by simply clicking an app and flipping through an album full of empty memories. Memories, that are not even real, because they have no connection to any true emotion or sense.