Photographer Captures Children Hypnotized By TV

by Amanda Froelich,
True Activist

Artist Donna Stevens seeks to explore the darker side of our growing love for technology.

Children, especially in their early years, are like sponges. Place them around an adult with a foul mouth, and they will begin mimicking their language soon enough. Set them in front of a television screen to maintain some peace and quiet in the house, and they will, undoubtedly, learn from what they are viewing and begin displaying similar behavior.

Which is why the art series titled “Idiot Box” by artist Donna Stevens is so significant and deserving of dialogue.

Stevens sought to explore the darker side of our love for technology, therefore, photographed children watching television. In the portraits, glossy eyed vacant stares are captured of children engrossed in their television program.

All the children photographed were between 3 and 4 years of age, and Stevens hopes this series begins a dialogue between adults of all ages to begin limiting the role of technology in their lives and the influence it may have on their kids.


As a mother herself, Donna recognizes that she maintains a certain level of techno-paranoia, yet still wants every individual to ask: “How much screen time is beneficial to children’s’ learning and imagination, and how much is too much?”

I need more TV; there is no outside world!

Credit: Donna Stevens

I can do this the whole day.

Credit: Donna Stevens

Yea man me too

Credit: Donna Stevens

So sleepy

Credit: Donna Stevens

Credit: Donna Stevens

Credit: Donna Stevens

Credit: Donna Stevens

With peculiar interest in zombies growing worldwide, one has to wonder what underlies the fascination to be like the zoned out, half-dead. Perhaps it is because on a subconscious level, human desire to understand themselves, or where they are going…

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