In the essay “Why We Take Pictures” by Susan Sontag, she argues that taking photos can be a tool of power and sometimes even a defense against anxiety(353). Taking pictures can be a great source of power, according to Sontag. The photographer has the power to show what they want and people can choose whether or not to be in the photo. Sontag uses the example of a family photo; as some family photos portray the family being happy, many people cannot see that the family might not actually be as happy as they look. Sontag also uses examples like nuclear families and traveling in order to enforce her claims about picture taking. In a nuclear family, Sontag believes that taking a picture of that family can help relieve some anxiety because people …show more content…
are able to relearn something about the history of their family through these photos (354). Sontag also indicates that taking pictures while traveling can help alleviate anxiety because taking pictures is soothing (354). The traveler can focus on taking the picture rather than being disoriented from being in a new environment. Additionally, work-driven people on vacation can have difficulty relaxing while on their trip and so picture taking can help their anxiety as it is a friendly imitation of work (354). I somewhat agree with the authors claim about picture taking, as it can be a tool of power because artist’s and people have the ability to make their own decision of what goes into the piece. However, at times anxiety levels can increase from picture taking due to societal pressure. Looking at a piece of art can be interpreted in many different ways.
Some people may have the same or similar interpretation but as a whole group of people, it is different. The artist whom took painted or drew the piece most likely had a different perspective than the audience. Every moment is different from the present or past. When an artist is creating their artwork, their interpretation can be different than their views a few years ago. Capturing the picture at a certain point in time can be powerful because it shows what the feelings, interpretations, emotions that were expressed at that time. These emotions translate to what the artist chooses to put in their piece, which can be very powerful. In this short essay, “Every Portrait Tells a Lie” by Debra Brehmer, she says “The portrait, in the choices the artist makes, alludes to the fact that who we are involved selection, interpretation, and chance.” (386) Brehmer makes an excellent point that the artist has the control to choose what goes into their piece. The artist can choose to include what they want into their piece, like a person, a plant, and etcetera. In the book The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, the artist, Basil Howard claims that another character, Dorian Gray, is his muse. Basil paints a portrait of Dorian and this indicates how much power Basil has over the portrait. Basil has the power to choose what goes into the painting and how Basil wants to paint Dorian. Taking or painting a photo shows how much power the artist has because of their interpretation when taking the photo and their decision of what goes into the photo. The choice is completely up to the artist, which makes taking photos such a powerful
tool. In addition to the artist’s opinion, it can also be powerful for the people that are the subject of the piece. People have the decision whether or not they want to be in a photo, which can be a very powerful tool. Sontag generalizes that people have the option whether or not they want to be apart of the piece. This is quite powerful because the person is able to decide for themselves, similar to the artist. When I was little, I remember plenty of times where my mother constantly told me to get in a photo because it was for the memories. I never was a big fan of being in pictures and so when my mother constantly told me to get into photos, I felt like I was powerless against her. I never liked the idea of taking photos because as a child I wanted to have fun and not stop to take a picture. Although pictures capture moments of happiness and excitement, when I was little I wanted to remember those moments by myself, not with the help of pictures. I couldn’t explain this to my mother, so I felt powerless in saying no to pictures. However, as I grew up I realized that I do have the power to say no to my mom. Once I said no to being in photos I felt a sense of relief and a regained sense of power. I felt that I could finally control what I wanted other people to see through photos and what I wanted to keep to myself. Similar to Sontag’s claim, I have shared a similar story and believe that the decision to be in a photo or not is a tool of power. In contrast to the author’s claim, taking pictures in our society is not a defense of anxiety because societal pressure from picture taking applications increases levels of anxiety. With the evolution of technology, it is very common for people to constantly have cellular devices in their pockets with cameras. With the ‘norm’ of having a cellular device constantly, many inventors have created applications or websites for people to post pictures that others can see and like. The societal pressure has increased based on these applications. Many people who have these applications have to deal with the pressure of keeping their profile looking good. The need for a social media profile to continuously look ‘good’ can create anxiety for picture taking. Societal pressure keeps the artist constantly worrying if their picture is good enough or if they will receive enough likes. In this article, “Taking Photos Won’t Take You Out of the Moment, Study Suggests,” by Steph Yin, Yin describes how people have become removed from society because we’re so focused on our cellular devices. Yin’s article quotes a doctor, Dr.Barasch, the doctor has said “Now you’re concerned about taking the perfect picture to get all the likes and comments,” which can increase anxiety. Society has conformed to taking pictures to show off your life, and so anxiety is very prominent because the artist constantly debates with themselves if a picture is ‘worthy enough’ to post. The artist has fallen into an endless hole of anxiety with these picture posting applications. Likewise, with Sontag’s claim on picture taking as a tool of power, it allows for the artist and the person to have the ability to decide what goes into the photo. Based on an article and a book that I’ve read and with a personal experience, I agree that pictures can be a tool of power. However, on her other claim on a defense against anxiety, it sometimes can be false because photography taking applications can increase the levels of anxiety. Due to the anxiety of getting the ‘perfect’ picture to post, anxiety levels have increased due to photo posting applications. All in all, there are some aspects of picture taking where it can be a tool of power and a defense against anxiety.
As the camera’s popularity grew, the use of it shifted from an art form into a social rite, a statement of authority and security. The act of taking photographs, and the photos produced, act as mementos or proof of the past. Photographs summarize an event all within itself, creating an immortal piece, allowing the people to grasp onto the ownership of area in which they feel insecure. On the other hand, Sontag states that the deed of taking photographs occupies the same need for “cosmopolitans […] as it does for lower-middle-class [citizens]”(177). With that being said, how can there be any power at all in photography, but a fake sensation we created from the act of photography to fill our insecurities. By tapping into the insecurities of the readers, Sontag forces them to connect with the words and consider their actions relating to photography more
There you are holding your camera an arm’s length away from your face, posing in the most flattering position to capture your best angle. There you are taking a photo of yourself to share with all of your Facebook friends. Taking a self-portrait photo, also known as a selfie, is something almost everyone has done in this new generation. This action is typically done without a second thought. In Alex Williams’ article “Here I Am Taking My Own Picture” that second thought is provoked through exploring the quickly spreading trend of self-portrait photography. In the article while Williams’ provides interesting examples on a changing generation as this trend progresses through social media and modern technology; Williams also leaves something to be desired within the article due to a lack of direction in the author’s stance on the topic.
are depicted with the same degree of variation. To understand such a diverse set of paintings –
Each respective piece of art is no doubt a self portrait, but how each artist is represented in the two pieces is where the contrasting elements come into play. In Portrait
Sontag, Susan. "Essay | Photography Enhances Our Understanding of the World." BookRags. BookRags. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
The first thing the painting reminded one of was a drug addict and his drug. After Dorian brought the painting home and realized that it was aging and he wasn’t, he hid it under a screen. Eventually, he hid it away in a locked room because his servants were curious as to why he had kept it covered. Yet, even though he was ashamed of it, he kept going into the room to study the portrait, such as an addict going back for more supplies.
Interpreting and analyzing the artwork created by other people has always been a challenge for me. Who am I to say what the artist or author symbolically represents with their work? Previous English teachers would always try to explain what an author "really" meant in their work. Such claims frustrated me because I believe that no person has the right to critically analyze his work except himself. Susan Sontag's view of interpretation is very similar to mine. In her essay Against Interpretation, she explains the importance of experiencing art, rather than dissecting every detail.
“Recently, photography has become almost as widely practiced an amusement as sex and dancing, which means that, like every mass art form, photography is not practiced by most people as an art. It is mainly a social rite, a defense against anxiety, and a tool of power” (Sontag 8). After reading this quote in my head multiple times, I started to realize that people use it for different purposes. When I took a photography class in college, it was under the category “art.” Which made me think of it as a form of art, when there are so many other ways to view photography. Sontag changed my opinion about photography after further interpreting her quote because to have a camera in our hand, being able to capture the world through our lens is to have a tool of
Susan Sontag talks of this in her composition of essays Against Interpretation. She says “It does not matter whether an artist intends or does not intend for their work of art to be interpreted” (Sontag 6). But patience is key when one is interpreting and analyzing a painting, there must be no aspect looked over for an accurate analysis. For example in The Awakening of Adonis one can interpret the work of art as a man that is hurt and a women is coming to his help with her little angels around her to help and protect them as she heals the man. But somebody else can look at this painting and see something like a man who is sleeping while a woman steals his possessions and the little children help her. But the main point is that is does not matter if John Waterhouse wanted people to see the myth of Aphrodite and Adonis or something completely different. Because even if he wanted people to see a greek myth he cannot force their minds to interpret his painting in only the way he wants it interpreted. A painting will be interpreted just as the viewer wants to interpret it. But that is what makes it a work of art, the fact that one single image can mean so many different things and make so many different stories all because of the backgrounds and history of the people who are interpreting it. But a true skill would be for an artist to
The portrait frames the movie and its plot, along with reinforcing many themes seen within it. Obsession in the main theme in this movie and some instances of it start with the painting. McPherson fell in love with the idea of Laura just from the portrait. The portrait was also something Waldo is proud of because he got Laura into art and he knows she wouldn’t be wealthy without his help. The portrait is backing up the selfish ways of the rich. The average person would not have a hand painted image of themselves; only the wealthy would think high enough of themselves to do and have the money for it. The portrait also displays a lack of genuineness and empathy, just as the upper class often did. Laura casts a negative view on the wealthy people in the world. The movie portrays that social group as selfish individuals who are insincere. Not only does the movie end with a shot of the misleading, theme-suggesting portrait, but Laura starts with it as well. That portrait acts as a frame for the movie with such a strong grip on the characters. This hold over the characters is what makes the piece of art so powerful. This painting stands almost as its own person rather than just a picture of Laura. The idea of two different people is seen throughout the film. For example, Waldo seems to try to put the blame on others and act better than being the murderer, but he is actually the murderer. Shelby also acts innocent and naïve throughout the course of the film until the truth comes out about him being present during the murder. Anne is also two-faced in that she acts happy for Shelby and Laura when she wishes that Shelby would marry her. Even though the movie starts and ends with the portrait of Laura, we see her in a different way at the end than we did at the beginning and during the
In times, we often see things, but we don't really capture what is beyond it. In some cases, there are people who are artistic and are prone to see what other's cannot visualize. Every individual has a talent which can be expressed and processed differently. Something you see can mean entirely divergent things to someone else;for example, some may see thing's that may seem simple, but in the eyes of an artist, it can be perceived with a whole new definition, dimension, and a potentially new discovery. As a photographer, my view of the world, can be skewed towards looking at everyday objects as potential art, but it wasn't always like that.
According to American writer, teacher, and human rights activist Susan Sontag’s work, “On Photography,” Sontag concludes that although photography is traditionally seen as to capture precious family moments and history, it can also mean a defense against anxiety and can even be a tool of power at a lot of times. When taking pictures, it gives people the authority to take control or manipulate the type of image we want, helping get in touch with an unfamiliar environment we may be confused with, as well as becoming a self-framing practice on portraying our identities. I agree with Sontag’s analysis, because I also think that taking pictures is becoming a stronger defense mechanism we apply to the world, gaining our experience and gaining the
Photojournalism plays a critical role in the way we capture and understand the reality of a particular moment in time. As a way of documenting history, the ability to create meaning through images contributes to a transparent media through exacting the truth of a moment. By capturing the surreal world and presenting it in a narrative that is relatable to its audience, allows the image to create a fair and accurate representation of reality.
Much may not know, but paintings represent who a person truly is. In the book, The Picture of Dorian Gray the main character Dorian's portrait, in particular, encompasses his very being. All of his sins and all of his misdoings were being represented on the canvas. Thus meaning that the portrait went through a metamorphosis of changes. From the sweet Dorian in the beginning of the story.
Introduction In this essays we will be examining a quote stated by Judith Williamson and its relevance to family photography throughout history. We will discuss Gender roles in family photography, the family album as a book, adjusting photos in a family album, how albums hide more than they reveal and how this theory has influenced my project. Gender Roles in family Photography Throughout the history of family photography there has always been specific gender roles.