On Photography
Below is the summary of the notes I took in the lecture on Susan Sontag, most of which I think as a whole is all you need to know about photography from the perspective of Susan as a theorist even if it is a bit choppy I feel it gets the point across. Short and sweet.
The effects of photography can tell us that:
· The cave has changed our world
· what is worth looking at
· The grammar and ethics of seeing
· The whole world as an anthology of images
· To collect photos is to collect the world
Putting yourself in relation to the world:
· Abstracting
· Scale, cropping, retouching and blowing up
· Packaging the world
Whatever the limitations (through amateurism) or pretentions (through artistry) a photograph is seen to be more innocent than any other kind of media.
Realist theories that affect people and are taken to heart when the photographs are taken:
Position and behaviour of photographs
The viewer/audience
Context of the image
But everyone is influenced by
· Taste
· Conscience
· Selective interpretation
Images which are idealise:
· Most fashion images
· Most animal
Photographs are used for control:
· Police
· Passports
· Identity cards (drivers licence)
What do photographs portray? Why do we take photographs?
The family album- evidence of being a good parent
The internet album- evidence of being a good friend
Tourism- certify experience of the world
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