Rosler/Levi Strauss/Fontcuberta Reading Response
After reading this text, I pulled three quotes that I can relate to when discussing the way photographers have an influence on the way viewers see their works.
"... to turn experience itself into a way of seeing"
Through photography, we [the viewer] are able to gain knowledge and insight on situations we may not be able to experience in real life. Documentary photography can go even deeper into this, by telling a story. The more an artist is able to delve into their specific topic, the easier they can portray their knowledge to the viewer.
"Documentary, as we know it, carries (old) information about a group of powerless people to another group addressed as socially powerful"
Using documentary photography as a way to tell a story or explain an event, photographers are able to grab hold of important things that are often times overlooked by the viewer. These techniques are used to show large groups of people the problems of "powerless people", in turn, giving these people power. This is ever-present in the photography world in works that depict the life of homeless, staving, or alcoholics, for example.
"A problem with trying to make [aesthetics of an image] workable within actual photographic practice is that it seems to ignore the fact that historical interests, not transcendental verities, govern weather any particular form is seen as adequately revealing its meaning-- and that you cannot second-guess history."
The aesthetics of a photograph can change the way a viewer sees the way a particular interest is portrayed. Meaning is changed as different portions of a photo are focused and overall view of the photograph is changed. Although it may be subconscious, a photograph's aesthetic completely changes the way a viewer sees that photo and plays its story in their mind.
All of these quotes seem to relate to the same questions of:
How can we, as photographers change the way viewers look at our works?
How can we change what the viewer deems important or focuses on upon viewing our works?
As photographers, we need to be aware of how our backgrounds and surroundings change the perceptions of the viewer.
"... to turn experience itself into a way of seeing"
Through photography, we [the viewer] are able to gain knowledge and insight on situations we may not be able to experience in real life. Documentary photography can go even deeper into this, by telling a story. The more an artist is able to delve into their specific topic, the easier they can portray their knowledge to the viewer.
"Documentary, as we know it, carries (old) information about a group of powerless people to another group addressed as socially powerful"
Using documentary photography as a way to tell a story or explain an event, photographers are able to grab hold of important things that are often times overlooked by the viewer. These techniques are used to show large groups of people the problems of "powerless people", in turn, giving these people power. This is ever-present in the photography world in works that depict the life of homeless, staving, or alcoholics, for example.
"A problem with trying to make [aesthetics of an image] workable within actual photographic practice is that it seems to ignore the fact that historical interests, not transcendental verities, govern weather any particular form is seen as adequately revealing its meaning-- and that you cannot second-guess history."
The aesthetics of a photograph can change the way a viewer sees the way a particular interest is portrayed. Meaning is changed as different portions of a photo are focused and overall view of the photograph is changed. Although it may be subconscious, a photograph's aesthetic completely changes the way a viewer sees that photo and plays its story in their mind.
All of these quotes seem to relate to the same questions of:
How can we, as photographers change the way viewers look at our works?
How can we change what the viewer deems important or focuses on upon viewing our works?
As photographers, we need to be aware of how our backgrounds and surroundings change the perceptions of the viewer.
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