A recent viral ‘perfect proposal’ picture hasn’t just tickled people, but also earned many ‘been there done that’ nods. Being proposed to or proposing to someone still remains a lifetime event. It marks the beginning of a lifelong bond where two people build more than just a family together. They build their own lives and culture, millions of memories and share their achievements together. Which is why this event is of so much relevance, especially in the West.
And so it was for Melbourne-based Diana, when her boyfriend Jose’ proposed to her. But since Diana is a nurse, she seldom has her nails manicured and decorated, her hands were thus not “picture perfect” to capture their engagement. Which is when her cousin Jenny stepped in, and offered her well-manicured hands as a prop to be used to capture the newly engaged couples proposal photo.
The picture should always be perfect
This viral proposal photograph tells a hilarious tale of the times that we live in. There is no place for imperfections in our digital lives.
Which is why we often plan our life events to generate moments which are digitally perfect. It also raises questions about how we perceive aesthetics. Of how important it is for us to nail the look with perfect hands, perfect clothes and make-up for every possible photograph-able occasion. The bride-to-be’s profession bound her to have clipped nails, but then who decided that un-manicured hands aren’t pretty?
SOME TAKEAWAYS
- Being proposed to or proposing to someone still remains a lifetime.
- When Diana's boyfriend proposed to her, her hands were not photo-ready. So to capture the moment perfectly, her cousin loaned her manicured hand in the photo shoot.
- This viral proposal photograph tells a hilarious tale of the times that we live in. There is no place for imperfections in our digital lives.
- Our quest to capture a moment purely revolves around aesthetics these days.
Our quest to capture a moment purely revolves around aesthetics these days. It is all about how perfect that moment looks on screen. Perhaps this obsession finds its roots in our lifelong desire to be glamorous. We all want to be the heroes and heroines in our stories, even if it is for one day. Hence aesthetics often takes precedence over the narrative. I’ve seen it with numerous proposals, pre/post wedding or even baby reveal photo shoots which flood my timeline. The focus is to make it look beautiful and glamorous, not touching or sentimental or intimate. The enthusiasm of disclosing a happy news gets dimmed by enthusiasm to get a perfect picture.
But this photograph also depicts how these unspoken codes of digital world bind us to others. We understand each other’s need to look presentable.
We understand how important it is to capture an important moment in all its perfect glory, hence we have no qualms stepping in to help. It is, in fact, a priority for many millennials. Be it offering your hand as a prop, as in this case, or holding a friend’s dress, or propping up your best mate on your shoulders. A perfect picture is a priority.
But while all this is funny, where is the spontaneity in all this? Doesn’t it feel like what we want to tell isn’t “He proposed” or “we are getting married” or “we are having a baby” to “Look at my gorgeous dress and the stunning backdrop. And oh we are getting married.” The truth is we all identify with the latter, which is why the funny proposal photograph is so relatable. It shows how our priorities are changing with time. But then who is to say if capturing a moment imperfectly is as good as not capturing it, in today’s context?
Also Read: Are Indian Women Aware Of Reproductive Coercion?
Yamini Pustake Bhalerao is a writer with the SheThePeople team, in the Opinions section. The views expressed are the author’s own.
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