Stephen Shore walks out of his lecture in China "You come here to hear a talk and you can’t even pay attention to who you’ve come to listen to."
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Have you ever been distracted by your phone when visiting something important? - well this week, renowned American photographer Stephen Shore abruptly left a lecture he was giving at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing, China after observing several audience members more focused on their mobile phones than his the presentation.
A video posted by Shanghai Daily’s digital platform, SHINE, captured the moment Shore ended the lecture just as a question was about to be asked. You can see the video below and Shore's walk-off around the 2-minute mark.
It can be seen that Shore is answering some questions from the audience before he begins to walk out of his own lecture stating:
"Just before you ask that question – I’m gonna say something, and I apologize in advance because it’s gonna be rude," Shore said from the stage. "But it’s something [that’s been] on my mind as I experience the modern world."
He then expressed his frustration with the audience, questioning why people would attend a lecture only to spend their time on their phones.
"Since we’re talking about attention, I think we understand each other," Shore remarked. "And I think you understand the value of attending to daily life. I saw at least a dozen of you who spent the entire lecture looking at your phones. You’ve come here. You come here to hear a talk and you can’t even pay attention to who you’ve come to listen to. How can you pay attention to the food you eat, or the feel of the sun on your skin?"
Stephen Shore poses at exhibition at Barbican Centre, London, in 2014 (Image credit: Getty Images)
After a brief silence, the audience responded with applause. Shore then concluded, "I think this is a good place to stop," before standing and exiting the stage.
Get the Digital Camera World Newsletter
The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!
According to SHINE, one attendee later claimed that there had been a misunderstanding, explaining that most people were using their devices to take notes during Shore’s talk, titled “Five Experiences That Transformed My Life and How They Inspired Me to Become an Artist.”
SHINE also reported that Shore was informed of the note-taking afterward and "felt better" about the situation.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights.
He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and is a Master of Arts in Publishing. He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association.
He is familiar with and shows great interest in street, medium, and large format photography with products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 shooting Street photography or general life as he sees it, usually in Black and White.
