White House Photographs Are 'Propaganda'

White House Photographs Are 'Propaganda'
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks from the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013. Iran and world powers struck an initial accord that broke a decade-long diplomatic stalemate, setting limits on the country's nuclear program in exchange for about $7 billion in relief from sanctions over six months. Photographer: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Bloomberg via Getty Images
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks from the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013. Iran and world powers struck an initial accord that broke a decade-long diplomatic stalemate, setting limits on the country's nuclear program in exchange for about $7 billion in relief from sanctions over six months. Photographer: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Bloomberg via Getty Images

THE Internet has been abuzz over the spectacle of President Obama and the prime ministers of Britain and Denmark snapping a photo of themselves — a “selfie,” to use the mot du jour — with a smartphone at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in South Africa on Tuesday.

Leaving aside whether it was appropriate, the moment captured the democratization of image making that is a hallmark of our gadget-filled, technologically rich era.

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