Gen Z's Love Affair with Film Photography: A Cultural Shift or a Niche Revival?
The resurgence of film photography among Gen Zers is more than just a nostalgic trend. It's a deliberate move away from the digital world, a reaction to the alienation of social media, and a yearning for a more tangible, deliberate, and personal way of engaging with the world. This shift is part of a broader trend of Gen Zers seeking physical cultural objects and media, a reaction to the digital culture that prioritizes envy, outrage, and insults.
In my work as a historian of photography and lecturer at the University of Southern California, I've noticed a significant change in how my students approach photography. They're not just using digital cameras or smartphones; they're embracing analog devices, printing photos, and creating physical albums. This shift is a response to the virtual world, where social media platforms prioritize engagement and advertising revenue over authentic relationships. The more connected young people became online, the more isolated and detached they felt.
Film photography offers a reprieve from this digital isolation, a pathway to community engagement, and a connection to a 'third place.' Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, 'third places' are spaces separate from home and work, where creative cross-pollination and social interaction thrive. These places might include a local cafe, a writing group, or a record store, and they combat loneliness by getting people out of their heads and into a community.
The AnalogCon festival in Los Angeles in 2026 showcased the flourishing of analog photography as a practice, ritual, and community. It attracted vendors, industry leaders, artists, and teachers, demonstrating the excitement and thirst for similar events. This trend extends beyond photography, with Gen Zers embracing vinyl records, VHS tapes, and video rental shops, creating their own 'third places' and fostering a sense of belonging and cultural connection.
In conclusion, Gen Z's love affair with film photography is a significant cultural shift, a reaction to the digital world's negative impacts on mental health and social interaction. It's a move towards a more deliberate, personal, and tangible way of experiencing life, a push against the digital culture that prioritizes envy and outrage. This trend signals a broader generational preoccupation with physical cultural objects and media, a reaction to the digital culture that is designed to cultivate envy and reward outrage, insults, and humiliation.
