Introduction:
My name is Mikayla Preete. I grew up on a farm in southern Saskatchewan. I have a degree in Psychology from the University of Manitoba, and am currently working towards a second degree in Computer Science at UBC. After graduation, I am hoping to work as a front-end developer and designer, combining my interests in programming, design, and human behaviour.
What I Hope To Learn In VISA 210:
Because I have a strong interest in human-computer interaction, I hope that I can gain further knowledge about this topic from the VISA 210 course. I would like to walk away from the course feeling like I have a better understanding of how technology is affecting people today and how it might affect others in the future. I also look forward to participating in discussion about these kinds of topics. Images are such a big part of the technology world today, and I would like to spend the term learning and contemplating about how digital images and media affect people.
Reflection On Today’s Class:
One of the discussions that I found most interesting in today’s class was the idea that images are becoming a language. As a former psychology student who has studied language, I think this is a very fascinating concept. With the sophistication of technology today, it is very easy and immediate to share images with others. It is also a fairly economic way of sharing ideas, given that “images are worth a thousand words”. Online, we can quickly reply to someone’s comment with a single image, and our idea can be communicated without ever having to use a single word. This is exciting, but also introduces an entire world of study for those who research culture, humanity, and technology. The concept of communication through images invites us to ask questions such as whether sharing thoughts through images is more sophisticated than using verbal communication, or more primitive?
I also found the discussion on artificial intelligence quite interesting. In my previous degree, I wrote an undergraduate thesis that dealt with the topic of AI, and it is a concept that I find quite intriguing. However, I do find it difficult to come to a conclusion on my exact opinions regarding AI’s role in society. I am curious about what the world might be like if all jobs were taken over by AI machines. I think it is exciting, but I can’t help but feel a bit nervous about it. The question of “what would we all do with our time if none of us had jobs?” is simultaneously interesting and frightening. As someone entering the tech world, I look forward to being in the middle of difficult questions like this.
Lastly, the third topic that I found particularly interesting was the idea of what it means to be human today. It seems that this concept has evolved over time, and the emergence of sophisticated technologies has only added to the complexity of this question. As we live in a world that is constantly inhabited by more and more “human-like” but non-human entities, the lines between human and non-human become increasingly blurred. If an entity thinks like a human, acts like a human, and talks like a human, but is built as a combination of computer hardware and software, can we still classify it is human? What makes it non-human? These kinds of questions address key philosophical ideals, and also ideas of morality. Because we are creating new kinds of entities, we have to decide how we treat them, and where they best fit in society. I look forward to discussing the question of “what does it mean to be human?” further.
The image I have chosen is an image of my mother and I on the beach when I was a young girl. My connection to this image is fairly obvious; the image, to me, represents my relationship with my mother. More specifically, I believe that the image represents three particular things about our relationship:
1. Our closeness. My mother and I remain extremely close, even though I have lived out of my home province for over 5 years now. While we are not similar in every way, I am largely a product of her influence and it shows in the way that I live my life. The image I’ve selected reflects this closeness, as my mother is holding me in a close hug in front of her. It is also very clear that we are related by looking at both of our faces in the image, and our visual similarity makes me think of how connected I feel with her even when she is not physically with me.
2. The changes in our relationship. While my Mom and I have always been very close, this image shows how our relationship used to be a very different one than it is today. As opposed to the friendship-like relationship we have today, this image reminds me of a time when she was purely my guardian, keeping me safe and guiding me through life. Her age in the photo is also very close to my current age, which makes me feel a sense of transition, where I am now somehow fulfilling her role in the photograph – as an adult that will go on to have her own children and act as a mentor and support system for them.
3. Her sacrifices. Interestingly, my mother is not a big fan of beaches and hot weather. However, in the image, we are sitting on a beach and are squinting against the very bright sun. Taken together, these qualities of the image remind me of how my Mom, when she was a similar age to me, made sacrifices in her life to make sure I was happy. She compromised on things, and did things she would never normally do to ensure I was living my best life. Because it reminds me of her selflessness and unconditional love, I keep this photo close with me at all times.
I found Week 2’s class discussion on “What is an image?” very interesting. It was interesting to consider all of the different things that an image can be and can represent. At first, we only want to think of an image as something you can hold in your hands or something that can be displayed on your computer screen. However, as per our class discussion, an image can also be manifested mentally, such as the images that are brought to mind when reading a particularly descriptive poem.
It was also interesting to consider the use of images in displaying some sort of “reality” versus something surreal. When photography was first introduced, images were intended to directly reflect the “real”. However, as technology progresses, it seems that we can do more to alter images until they portray a new kind of reality, and the possibilities are really endless. Whether they portray “real” content or imagined, images can represent objects, feelings, memories, thoughts, places, and much more.
Ultimately, our discussion focused on images as means of communication. While it makes sense that images could act as such, I do not think that we immediately think of images as being a language. However, it is very clear that images are a way of communicating with others today. Social media websites are flooded with images acting as stand-alone comments. Memes and gifs are able to communicate a message to viewers with a very short verbal caption, or perhaps no caption at all. Because of this and many other examples, it is clear that images are a language – and one that is particular important in the ultra-connected world that exists today.
Today we discussed the relationship between a “thing” and something that is being used to represent it. We structured this in an “A -> B” relationship, where A is influencing B, but the two are separate entities. From this, we talked about whether or not there is such a thing as reality. I believe that there is a sort of global reality, but that indeed no one can truly experience it in its purest sense because everything we experience is filtered through our own personal view of the world, which transforms what we perceive into our own versions of it.
That said, it seems that there are enough aspects of our “personal realities” that overlap such that we can experience the same or similar things. For example, we might all see a picture of an apple and have different memories associated with an apple, but there will likely be shared aspects of our feelings towards such an experience as well. These differences, as well as similarities, are part of what make us human.
At the beginning of class, we looked at everyone’s “apple abstraction” images, where we were asked to represent the sensory feelings of an apple in a less representational and more abstract way. It was interesting to see a very vast range of approaches to this challenge. While some students still chose to use representational symbols in their pieces, others took a totally abstract approach. Some apples encouraged feelings of disgust (such as the .gif video of the rotting apple), while others looked both edible and tasty. Other images made students think of fruits other than apples, and some images focused more on the tech company, Apple, than the apple fruit. On the whole, the exercise was very effective in showing how there are endless possibilities to representing a single concept, and that there are endless possibilities of how someone else will interpret that representation. Thus, in creating art, we have to be okay with the fact that we can not truly control how it will be received.
Today we started class by looking at our “images of images”. This homework assignment required us to create abstract images from the descriptions we wrote about an image we are connected to in Week 1. Like last week’s exercise, this activity was effective in showing diversity in expression and also diversity in interpretation. Also like last week, some students chose to take a very abstract approach to their works while others kept representational content. It seemed that some reactions to images were exactly what the student creator intended with the work, while others were not. In the case of my image, the reactions were essentially what I intended. I was hoping to communicate the very specific kind of love and connection between a mother and daughter in the work, and that seemed to be how people interpreted it. Though, there was a bit of variability in whether people found that work to be overall “happy” or “sad”.
The rest of the class time focused mainly on the idea of images as a reflection of the cultural period they exist in. For example, we discussed Medieval paintings and the way that they embody the idea of life as a temporary time before the after-life. We moved on to looking at the perspective techniques seen in Renaissance paintings, and how this can represent the Renaissance ideal that humans had agency and were thus “the centre of the universe” in a sense. We then moved on to discuss the very important invention of photography in the Industrial Revolution. We talked about how photography represented a substitution for the real, and was trusted as an artifact of reality. For example, photos have been trusted in scientific and forensic settings. We progressed this discussion to images today and what the nature of today’s images says about our current society, which we were assigned to think about as homework.
I agree that the nature of images, and art, are a fairly direct representation of the epoch they are created in. I believe this is one of the reasons that art and images are so essential, as they exist as artifacts of culture and evidence of the thoughts and beliefs of a certain time. Discussions like the one we had in class today remind us how creative expression is a communicator of culture, and thus why the role of artist is an important one.
1. After reading The Truth of Experience, I felt like I had a new understanding of the role of images today. Images are such a huge means of communication in current society, yet it doesn’t seem that we ever stop to think about exactly how large a role images play in our everyday lives. I thought that the article described the role of images today very eloquently, with the following passages standing out most to me:
“It’s as though our society has freed image-making from specific applications, and rendered the photographic image an autonomous subject on its own, detached from any function or relation.”
“[Images] have become a commodity. We trade our existence in images, and we shape ourselves through them.”
“Instead of assuming that photography is a mechanism that transforms reality into images, we can invert the terms and see the photographer as a translator, as a facilitator of narratives.”
“Inscribing oneself into the image and image-making process is the only way left to participate in life: moving into the core of the image, into the work and the discourse that lies behind the image and becoming part of it, as well as of the medium.”
Each of these passages describes how images are woven into our lives today, and how we use them to express ourselves in ways that are very different from the past. As the author mentions, we shape ourselves through images and use them to construct a social idea of who we are and what our life is like.
The author refers to photographers as translators, which I think is an interesting view. This idea suggests that a photographer is able to take an experience or concept and capture it in a way that presents viewers with a narrative. I believe that photographers are indeed translators that can take a moment or experience and create an image from it that communicates whatever they wish. In that way, they are using pieces of reality to construct a new kind of reality. Because of this, I believe that photographers today are less like early photographers, and more like a hybrid between early photographers and painters. They can capture physical reality, but they can also integrate pieces of their imagination into photographs as well.
While I agree with many parts of the article, I am not sure if I agree with the author’s statement that “Inscribing oneself into the image and image-making process is the only way left to participate in life.” Though image-making and image-sharing are certainly important activities today, I disagree with the notion that the only way to “live” today is to be involved in these things. I would argue that the only way to be truly engaged with young people today is to participate in these activities, but that surely one can live without doing so. In essence, I found that argument to be a little overdramatic.
On the whole, The Truth of Experience was an interesting read that presented thoughtful ideas about images and life today. It brought up questions about the way that the majority of current society shares information, and what that might suggest about the world today. It is articles like this that go a long way in illuminating the truth about how we live in this hyper-connected existence.
2. When I look at today’s images, three common themes seem to emerge:
a) Many images are retouched, altered, or “perfected” using Photoshop or other digital manipulation tools.
b) Many images are used as “memes” and are accompanied with short captions to express relatable or self-deprecating humour.
c) Many images “turn the camera around,” focusing on the life of of the photographer (such as “selfies” or images of everyday events)
With these themes in mind, the images of today seem to be communicating the nature of today’s society and what it means to be alive today. Like representations from Medieval times and the Renaissance, today’s images are reflections of how we see the world in its current climate.
The prevalence of photoshopping and altering in images today speaks to the increasing sophistication of technology and the major role it plays in everyday life. It is so easy to manipulate images today that images no longer represent the physical reality that they once did. We can no longer trust photos as depictions of the physical real. Rather, we must approach photos with skepticism, and the understanding that they could have been greatly altered. The vast amount of photoshopping also speaks to today’s “sky’s the limit” worldview. With the major technological advances seen today, we have started to wonder whether anything is truly impossible. This idea is also reflected in images where the imagined is made visible using photoshopping technology.
Memes and other humorous images speak to our desires to connect and relate to others. This kind of comedy brings out the humanity in people, which can be hard to see in such a tech-focused, online world. People use these kinds of humorous images to connect with others, and to help themselves deal with difficult emotions. Moreover, humorous images like memes also speak to the desire of many young people today to be liked and admired. By creating a good meme, or successfully funny image that goes viral on the internet, you are lauded and recognized as someone special. In a world where we are constantly sharing our experiences and want to be liked and accepted, it makes sense that we would strive to create things that make us seem more likeable or part of the “in-crowd”.
Many images today focus on the personal lives of people, such as “selfies” and images documenting one’s daily activities. The prevalence of self-focused images speaks to the nature of society today, and how we are constantly focusing on ourselves. We strive to be the best possible versions of ourselves, are told to think of ourselves first, and are told to practice “self care.” This kind of messaging has led to a society of people who feel the need to put themselves first, but also sell themselves like a commodity. Social media is a major player in this kind of “commodification of self through images”. It acts as a platform for us to construct these sort of personal representations, creating a social image of who we are that may be more or less fabricated. All in all, these self-focused kinds of images direct attention to the way society is so self-focused today, and how many individuals’ biggest priority is being well liked, or more specifically, the best.
Overall, we see that today’s images reflect the current zeitgeist and the major beliefs and trends of a 2018 society. This includes concepts such as technological advancement, desires to connect with humanity, an intense focus on oneself, and a desire to have more. We will see how the images of tomorrow reflect future societal patterns, leaving today’s images as merely artifacts of an old world.
WEEK 5 CLASS REFLECTION:
Today we discussed the reading, The Truth of Experience. We discussed various themes from the article, such as the comparison of translation and narrative, the autonomy of images, and the question of what a photographer is today.
Throughout our discussion on translation v.s. narrative, we talked about how translation is conventionally thought of as taking something and turning it into something else, whereas narrative is seen as the retelling of a story. We also considered the idea that the two things aren’t actually different things. I found this conversation interesting because, while I know what these words mean in the general sense, I don’t often think about them in the context of images or photography. After our discussion, I think that we can see images as either a telling of a story or a transformation of a story – and in that way, they can be either narratives or translations.
Our discussion on the autonomy of images brought to light the idea of whether images today are stripped of function or relation. I believe that images are autonomous in the sense that they do not all have a practical sense, and they are continuously disseminated to the point where their source is not necessarily connected to them anymore. However, I also feel that images that are devoid of practical function today often serve a different kind of function – for example, they might serve the function of commenting on the state of society today, or expressing some kind of feeling or general experience. In that sense, I do not find them to be completely functionless, but I would agree that they are somewhat autonomous.
Who is a photographer today? After discussing this question in class, I believe that a photographer today is essentially anyone with access to a camera (which is most people). Almost anyone can take a picture today and use it to express thoughts and feelings, or to capture a moment of reality. We act as photographers in the context of our own lives and use this skill to share our experiences with others, creating a narrative of ours lives (which is often carefully constructed). Being a photographer is no longer the lauded role that it once was. Today, it is a necessity.
Overall, our discussion spoke to the question of what an image is today. After the dialogue in class, it is clear that today’s images are a representation of the current society and reality we live in.
Today we continued our discussion on the power of images. We began class by discussing the images from our weekly challenge, which asked us to create an image as an expression of the song, Claire de Lune. There were many different interpretations of the song, including emotions ranging from happiness to sadness to calmness and many in between. Overall, I found that the images could be split into two overall groups: those that expressed a kind of calmness or delicateness that would naturally pair with the song, and those that countered those feelings and instead used the song to create new meaning in harsher, bolder images. I felt that both approaches brought value to our discussion, and expressed aspects of the song in thought-provoking ways.
I found Heloise’s video particularly thought-provoking. Her pairing of falling buildings with the song seemed to express a sort of “beauty in the breakdown” essence. While the thought of falling buildings could be associated with loud noises, fear, or sadness, the song’s pairing with the clips made the video seem to speak to the beauty in these kinds of events instead. The music also seemed to make the clips feel less about the physical event of buildings falling, and more about what these kinds of events might represent. For example, these events could represent the immediate disappearance, the temporary nature, or the breakdown of things in life. All in all, I really enjoyed the piece and the questions it brought to mind.
The rest of the class involved discussion on the impact that images (and art, especially) have on society. In this conversation, we discussed that while art is not necessarily a functional “need” for existence, it is what ultimately defines us as human. In a sense, making and interacting with art is what separates us from animals. This concept encourages me to look at the purpose and value of art differently, and I hope to continue approaching art with this in mind. We also discussed how images can be seen as both oppressive and freeing. I agree with this notion, because I find that images can control our thoughts and actions, but also allow us to have agency and to express ourselves wholeheartedly. We talked about how freedom could be seen as the core of art. I agree with this somewhat – it does seem that art is intertwined with this idea of free expression and free thought. Though, I might argue that if there is only one “core” to art, it would be expression.
On the whole, today’s class was interesting and covered concepts that are important to art-making and art-consuming. I look forward to exploring these concepts and related ones as the course progresses.
PARTNER PORTRAIT – WILL DICKSON
It is an animated GIF. I realized that OneNote does not show animation in GIFs, so I have provided both the OneNote link to the image (which only shows the first frame of the GIF), and a Google Docs link (which shows the full animation).
What is an image?
Lots of different things
Broader way of understanding our relationships to other things
Central to our understanding of the world
They are this bridge
Transportation
Images throughout history
Rely on images to know about history
Humanity through the ages
Cave art
Picasso – said nothing new he had actually achieved — everything was there for him
Completed over a period of up to 20,000 years
Power of images
We create them, yet they change us
Images being used to manipulate our perceptions
We can be controlled by what images we’re exposed to
Ex. communist societies, the church
Making women smoke with ads – relating torch of freedom and cigaretts
some peoples images more important than others
Information vs Artistic Images
Information – avoid ambiguity; clearest message possible
Art – more ambiguous
Che Guevara
What is the power of technology?
What is technology?
Innovations that make our lives easier or more productive
Video from Space Odyssey
Monkeys
First ever serious science fiction movie
Before that was more into the comic trend
Bone turns from some thing from an animal or human and becomes a tool – the birth of technology
Overcome physical limitations
We’ve become parts in this technological device of society
Did technology create us?
Is technology invented or discovered?
Evolution
Fluxus
Opens way of making art — how to make sense of what our classroom can be
Learning to see things a little bit like an artist
Less assertive
Fluxus — way of working and understanding art is a way we can learn a lot from today — open, straightforward, unpretentious ways of seeing the works and sharing it with others
How to think about technology — artists use it in a very straightforward way
Art that was about being fun, creating community, making the most insignificant moments of life something to think about, reinvent, … that attitude
Halfway between an artwork and a phrase… or something bring to share
WEEK 1
Introduction:
My name is Mikayla Preete. I grew up on a farm in southern Saskatchewan. I have a degree in Psychology from the University of Manitoba, and am currently working towards a second degree in Computer Science at UBC. After graduation, I am hoping to work as a front-end developer and designer, combining my interests in programming, design, and human behaviour.
What I Hope To Learn In VISA 210:
Because I have a strong interest in human-computer interaction, I hope that I can gain further knowledge about this topic from the VISA 210 course. I would like to walk away from the course feeling like I have a better understanding of how technology is affecting people today and how it might affect others in the future. I also look forward to participating in discussion about these kinds of topics. Images are such a big part of the technology world today, and I would like to spend the term learning and contemplating about how digital images and media affect people.
Reflection On Today’s Class:
One of the discussions that I found most interesting in today’s class was the idea that images are becoming a language. As a former psychology student who has studied language, I think this is a very fascinating concept. With the sophistication of technology today, it is very easy and immediate to share images with others. It is also a fairly economic way of sharing ideas, given that “images are worth a thousand words”. Online, we can quickly reply to someone’s comment with a single image, and our idea can be communicated without ever having to use a single word. This is exciting, but also introduces an entire world of study for those who research culture, humanity, and technology. The concept of communication through images invites us to ask questions such as whether sharing thoughts through images is more sophisticated than using verbal communication, or more primitive?
I also found the discussion on artificial intelligence quite interesting. In my previous degree, I wrote an undergraduate thesis that dealt with the topic of AI, and it is a concept that I find quite intriguing. However, I do find it difficult to come to a conclusion on my exact opinions regarding AI’s role in society. I am curious about what the world might be like if all jobs were taken over by AI machines. I think it is exciting, but I can’t help but feel a bit nervous about it. The question of “what would we all do with our time if none of us had jobs?” is simultaneously interesting and frightening. As someone entering the tech world, I look forward to being in the middle of difficult questions like this.
Lastly, the third topic that I found particularly interesting was the idea of what it means to be human today. It seems that this concept has evolved over time, and the emergence of sophisticated technologies has only added to the complexity of this question. As we live in a world that is constantly inhabited by more and more “human-like” but non-human entities, the lines between human and non-human become increasingly blurred. If an entity thinks like a human, acts like a human, and talks like a human, but is built as a combination of computer hardware and software, can we still classify it is human? What makes it non-human? These kinds of questions address key philosophical ideals, and also ideas of morality. Because we are creating new kinds of entities, we have to decide how we treat them, and where they best fit in society. I look forward to discussing the question of “what does it mean to be human?” further.
Week 01 CHALLENGE: AN IMAGE IN MY MIND
The image I have chosen is an image of my mother and I on the beach when I was a young girl. My connection to this image is fairly obvious; the image, to me, represents my relationship with my mother. More specifically, I believe that the image represents three particular things about our relationship:
1. Our closeness. My mother and I remain extremely close, even though I have lived out of my home province for over 5 years now. While we are not similar in every way, I am largely a product of her influence and it shows in the way that I live my life. The image I’ve selected reflects this closeness, as my mother is holding me in a close hug in front of her. It is also very clear that we are related by looking at both of our faces in the image, and our visual similarity makes me think of how connected I feel with her even when she is not physically with me.
2. The changes in our relationship. While my Mom and I have always been very close, this image shows how our relationship used to be a very different one than it is today. As opposed to the friendship-like relationship we have today, this image reminds me of a time when she was purely my guardian, keeping me safe and guiding me through life. Her age in the photo is also very close to my current age, which makes me feel a sense of transition, where I am now somehow fulfilling her role in the photograph – as an adult that will go on to have her own children and act as a mentor and support system for them.
3. Her sacrifices. Interestingly, my mother is not a big fan of beaches and hot weather. However, in the image, we are sitting on a beach and are squinting against the very bright sun. Taken together, these qualities of the image remind me of how my Mom, when she was a similar age to me, made sacrifices in her life to make sure I was happy. She compromised on things, and did things she would never normally do to ensure I was living my best life. Because it reminds me of her selflessness and unconditional love, I keep this photo close with me at all times.
WEEK 02 CHALLENGE: WHAT IS AN APPLE?
https://imgur.com/iYwPa0z
WEEK 03 CHALLENGE: IMAGE OF AN IMAGE
https://imgur.com/a/GiAZO
WEEK 02 CLASS REFLECTION
I found Week 2’s class discussion on “What is an image?” very interesting. It was interesting to consider all of the different things that an image can be and can represent. At first, we only want to think of an image as something you can hold in your hands or something that can be displayed on your computer screen. However, as per our class discussion, an image can also be manifested mentally, such as the images that are brought to mind when reading a particularly descriptive poem.
It was also interesting to consider the use of images in displaying some sort of “reality” versus something surreal. When photography was first introduced, images were intended to directly reflect the “real”. However, as technology progresses, it seems that we can do more to alter images until they portray a new kind of reality, and the possibilities are really endless. Whether they portray “real” content or imagined, images can represent objects, feelings, memories, thoughts, places, and much more.
Ultimately, our discussion focused on images as means of communication. While it makes sense that images could act as such, I do not think that we immediately think of images as being a language. However, it is very clear that images are a way of communicating with others today. Social media websites are flooded with images acting as stand-alone comments. Memes and gifs are able to communicate a message to viewers with a very short verbal caption, or perhaps no caption at all. Because of this and many other examples, it is clear that images are a language – and one that is particular important in the ultra-connected world that exists today.
WEEK 03 CLASS REFLECTION:
Today we discussed the relationship between a “thing” and something that is being used to represent it. We structured this in an “A -> B” relationship, where A is influencing B, but the two are separate entities. From this, we talked about whether or not there is such a thing as reality. I believe that there is a sort of global reality, but that indeed no one can truly experience it in its purest sense because everything we experience is filtered through our own personal view of the world, which transforms what we perceive into our own versions of it.
That said, it seems that there are enough aspects of our “personal realities” that overlap such that we can experience the same or similar things. For example, we might all see a picture of an apple and have different memories associated with an apple, but there will likely be shared aspects of our feelings towards such an experience as well. These differences, as well as similarities, are part of what make us human.
At the beginning of class, we looked at everyone’s “apple abstraction” images, where we were asked to represent the sensory feelings of an apple in a less representational and more abstract way. It was interesting to see a very vast range of approaches to this challenge. While some students still chose to use representational symbols in their pieces, others took a totally abstract approach. Some apples encouraged feelings of disgust (such as the .gif video of the rotting apple), while others looked both edible and tasty. Other images made students think of fruits other than apples, and some images focused more on the tech company, Apple, than the apple fruit. On the whole, the exercise was very effective in showing how there are endless possibilities to representing a single concept, and that there are endless possibilities of how someone else will interpret that representation. Thus, in creating art, we have to be okay with the fact that we can not truly control how it will be received.
WEEK 04 CLASS REFLECTION
Today we started class by looking at our “images of images”. This homework assignment required us to create abstract images from the descriptions we wrote about an image we are connected to in Week 1. Like last week’s exercise, this activity was effective in showing diversity in expression and also diversity in interpretation. Also like last week, some students chose to take a very abstract approach to their works while others kept representational content. It seemed that some reactions to images were exactly what the student creator intended with the work, while others were not. In the case of my image, the reactions were essentially what I intended. I was hoping to communicate the very specific kind of love and connection between a mother and daughter in the work, and that seemed to be how people interpreted it. Though, there was a bit of variability in whether people found that work to be overall “happy” or “sad”.
The rest of the class time focused mainly on the idea of images as a reflection of the cultural period they exist in. For example, we discussed Medieval paintings and the way that they embody the idea of life as a temporary time before the after-life. We moved on to looking at the perspective techniques seen in Renaissance paintings, and how this can represent the Renaissance ideal that humans had agency and were thus “the centre of the universe” in a sense. We then moved on to discuss the very important invention of photography in the Industrial Revolution. We talked about how photography represented a substitution for the real, and was trusted as an artifact of reality. For example, photos have been trusted in scientific and forensic settings. We progressed this discussion to images today and what the nature of today’s images says about our current society, which we were assigned to think about as homework.
I agree that the nature of images, and art, are a fairly direct representation of the epoch they are created in. I believe this is one of the reasons that art and images are so essential, as they exist as artifacts of culture and evidence of the thoughts and beliefs of a certain time. Discussions like the one we had in class today remind us how creative expression is a communicator of culture, and thus why the role of artist is an important one.
WEEK 04 CHALLENGE
1. After reading The Truth of Experience, I felt like I had a new understanding of the role of images today. Images are such a huge means of communication in current society, yet it doesn’t seem that we ever stop to think about exactly how large a role images play in our everyday lives. I thought that the article described the role of images today very eloquently, with the following passages standing out most to me:
“It’s as though our society has freed image-making from specific applications, and rendered the photographic image an autonomous subject on its own, detached from any function or relation.”
“[Images] have become a commodity. We trade our existence in images, and we shape ourselves through them.”
“Instead of assuming that photography is a mechanism that transforms reality into images, we can invert the terms and see the photographer as a translator, as a facilitator of narratives.”
“Inscribing oneself into the image and image-making process is the only way left to participate in life: moving into the core of the image, into the work and the discourse that lies behind the image and becoming part of it, as well as of the medium.”
Each of these passages describes how images are woven into our lives today, and how we use them to express ourselves in ways that are very different from the past. As the author mentions, we shape ourselves through images and use them to construct a social idea of who we are and what our life is like.
The author refers to photographers as translators, which I think is an interesting view. This idea suggests that a photographer is able to take an experience or concept and capture it in a way that presents viewers with a narrative. I believe that photographers are indeed translators that can take a moment or experience and create an image from it that communicates whatever they wish. In that way, they are using pieces of reality to construct a new kind of reality. Because of this, I believe that photographers today are less like early photographers, and more like a hybrid between early photographers and painters. They can capture physical reality, but they can also integrate pieces of their imagination into photographs as well.
While I agree with many parts of the article, I am not sure if I agree with the author’s statement that “Inscribing oneself into the image and image-making process is the only way left to participate in life.” Though image-making and image-sharing are certainly important activities today, I disagree with the notion that the only way to “live” today is to be involved in these things. I would argue that the only way to be truly engaged with young people today is to participate in these activities, but that surely one can live without doing so. In essence, I found that argument to be a little overdramatic.
On the whole, The Truth of Experience was an interesting read that presented thoughtful ideas about images and life today. It brought up questions about the way that the majority of current society shares information, and what that might suggest about the world today. It is articles like this that go a long way in illuminating the truth about how we live in this hyper-connected existence.
2. When I look at today’s images, three common themes seem to emerge:
a) Many images are retouched, altered, or “perfected” using Photoshop or other digital manipulation tools.
b) Many images are used as “memes” and are accompanied with short captions to express relatable or self-deprecating humour.
c) Many images “turn the camera around,” focusing on the life of of the photographer (such as “selfies” or images of everyday events)
With these themes in mind, the images of today seem to be communicating the nature of today’s society and what it means to be alive today. Like representations from Medieval times and the Renaissance, today’s images are reflections of how we see the world in its current climate.
The prevalence of photoshopping and altering in images today speaks to the increasing sophistication of technology and the major role it plays in everyday life. It is so easy to manipulate images today that images no longer represent the physical reality that they once did. We can no longer trust photos as depictions of the physical real. Rather, we must approach photos with skepticism, and the understanding that they could have been greatly altered. The vast amount of photoshopping also speaks to today’s “sky’s the limit” worldview. With the major technological advances seen today, we have started to wonder whether anything is truly impossible. This idea is also reflected in images where the imagined is made visible using photoshopping technology.
Memes and other humorous images speak to our desires to connect and relate to others. This kind of comedy brings out the humanity in people, which can be hard to see in such a tech-focused, online world. People use these kinds of humorous images to connect with others, and to help themselves deal with difficult emotions. Moreover, humorous images like memes also speak to the desire of many young people today to be liked and admired. By creating a good meme, or successfully funny image that goes viral on the internet, you are lauded and recognized as someone special. In a world where we are constantly sharing our experiences and want to be liked and accepted, it makes sense that we would strive to create things that make us seem more likeable or part of the “in-crowd”.
Many images today focus on the personal lives of people, such as “selfies” and images documenting one’s daily activities. The prevalence of self-focused images speaks to the nature of society today, and how we are constantly focusing on ourselves. We strive to be the best possible versions of ourselves, are told to think of ourselves first, and are told to practice “self care.” This kind of messaging has led to a society of people who feel the need to put themselves first, but also sell themselves like a commodity. Social media is a major player in this kind of “commodification of self through images”. It acts as a platform for us to construct these sort of personal representations, creating a social image of who we are that may be more or less fabricated. All in all, these self-focused kinds of images direct attention to the way society is so self-focused today, and how many individuals’ biggest priority is being well liked, or more specifically, the best.
Overall, we see that today’s images reflect the current zeitgeist and the major beliefs and trends of a 2018 society. This includes concepts such as technological advancement, desires to connect with humanity, an intense focus on oneself, and a desire to have more. We will see how the images of tomorrow reflect future societal patterns, leaving today’s images as merely artifacts of an old world.
WEEK 5 CHALLENGE: An Image of an Image Part 2
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13TKdyC5h7mHh2qgyBh7b4t_43ou6FNLiFvTfyjm-p-A/edit?usp=sharing
WEEK 5 CLASS REFLECTION:
Today we discussed the reading, The Truth of Experience. We discussed various themes from the article, such as the comparison of translation and narrative, the autonomy of images, and the question of what a photographer is today.
Throughout our discussion on translation v.s. narrative, we talked about how translation is conventionally thought of as taking something and turning it into something else, whereas narrative is seen as the retelling of a story. We also considered the idea that the two things aren’t actually different things. I found this conversation interesting because, while I know what these words mean in the general sense, I don’t often think about them in the context of images or photography. After our discussion, I think that we can see images as either a telling of a story or a transformation of a story – and in that way, they can be either narratives or translations.
Our discussion on the autonomy of images brought to light the idea of whether images today are stripped of function or relation. I believe that images are autonomous in the sense that they do not all have a practical sense, and they are continuously disseminated to the point where their source is not necessarily connected to them anymore. However, I also feel that images that are devoid of practical function today often serve a different kind of function – for example, they might serve the function of commenting on the state of society today, or expressing some kind of feeling or general experience. In that sense, I do not find them to be completely functionless, but I would agree that they are somewhat autonomous.
Who is a photographer today? After discussing this question in class, I believe that a photographer today is essentially anyone with access to a camera (which is most people). Almost anyone can take a picture today and use it to express thoughts and feelings, or to capture a moment of reality. We act as photographers in the context of our own lives and use this skill to share our experiences with others, creating a narrative of ours lives (which is often carefully constructed). Being a photographer is no longer the lauded role that it once was. Today, it is a necessity.
Overall, our discussion spoke to the question of what an image is today. After the dialogue in class, it is clear that today’s images are a representation of the current society and reality we live in.
WEEK 6 CLASS REFLECTIONS
Today we continued our discussion on the power of images. We began class by discussing the images from our weekly challenge, which asked us to create an image as an expression of the song, Claire de Lune. There were many different interpretations of the song, including emotions ranging from happiness to sadness to calmness and many in between. Overall, I found that the images could be split into two overall groups: those that expressed a kind of calmness or delicateness that would naturally pair with the song, and those that countered those feelings and instead used the song to create new meaning in harsher, bolder images. I felt that both approaches brought value to our discussion, and expressed aspects of the song in thought-provoking ways.
I found Heloise’s video particularly thought-provoking. Her pairing of falling buildings with the song seemed to express a sort of “beauty in the breakdown” essence. While the thought of falling buildings could be associated with loud noises, fear, or sadness, the song’s pairing with the clips made the video seem to speak to the beauty in these kinds of events instead. The music also seemed to make the clips feel less about the physical event of buildings falling, and more about what these kinds of events might represent. For example, these events could represent the immediate disappearance, the temporary nature, or the breakdown of things in life. All in all, I really enjoyed the piece and the questions it brought to mind.
The rest of the class involved discussion on the impact that images (and art, especially) have on society. In this conversation, we discussed that while art is not necessarily a functional “need” for existence, it is what ultimately defines us as human. In a sense, making and interacting with art is what separates us from animals. This concept encourages me to look at the purpose and value of art differently, and I hope to continue approaching art with this in mind. We also discussed how images can be seen as both oppressive and freeing. I agree with this notion, because I find that images can control our thoughts and actions, but also allow us to have agency and to express ourselves wholeheartedly. We talked about how freedom could be seen as the core of art. I agree with this somewhat – it does seem that art is intertwined with this idea of free expression and free thought. Though, I might argue that if there is only one “core” to art, it would be expression.
On the whole, today’s class was interesting and covered concepts that are important to art-making and art-consuming. I look forward to exploring these concepts and related ones as the course progresses.
Midterm Reflections OneNote Poster with Will and Stephanie:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AjeBrcSrxsUcaT9POlzjfpOk8to
PARTNER PORTRAIT – WILL DICKSON
It is an animated GIF. I realized that OneNote does not show animation in GIFs, so I have provided both the OneNote link to the image (which only shows the first frame of the GIF), and a Google Docs link (which shows the full animation).
Animated (Google Docs): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-Pt_WA73e5kxwr6-6LD5Lk3_xbKpxB8UIR5CUR3rvk/edit?usp=sharing
Static (OneNote): https://1drv.ms/f/s!AszZJvaNrvDFeYiYE51rv4xnvb8
Weekly Reflections Collage – February 28
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AszZJvaNrvDFeYiYE51rv4xnvb8
WEEK 9 – TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANS
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YCMskzJ70d0RzEm7aFcumn93zzWpn5O-/view?usp=sharing
WEEK 10 – NEW WAYS OF LIFE
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i_KqPyQ4Q3aKFbV0E6EBmgcxcpprQv6u/view?usp=sharing
WEEK 11 NOTES: OVERALL QUESTIONS
What is an image?
Lots of different things
Broader way of understanding our relationships to other things
Central to our understanding of the world
They are this bridge
Transportation
Images throughout history
Rely on images to know about history
Humanity through the ages
Cave art
Picasso – said nothing new he had actually achieved — everything was there for him
Completed over a period of up to 20,000 years
Power of images
We create them, yet they change us
Images being used to manipulate our perceptions
We can be controlled by what images we’re exposed to
Ex. communist societies, the church
Making women smoke with ads – relating torch of freedom and cigaretts
some peoples images more important than others
Information vs Artistic Images
Information – avoid ambiguity; clearest message possible
Art – more ambiguous
Che Guevara
What is the power of technology?
What is technology?
Innovations that make our lives easier or more productive
Video from Space Odyssey
Monkeys
First ever serious science fiction movie
Before that was more into the comic trend
Bone turns from some thing from an animal or human and becomes a tool – the birth of technology
Overcome physical limitations
We’ve become parts in this technological device of society
Did technology create us?
Is technology invented or discovered?
Evolution
Fluxus
Opens way of making art — how to make sense of what our classroom can be
Learning to see things a little bit like an artist
Less assertive
Fluxus — way of working and understanding art is a way we can learn a lot from today — open, straightforward, unpretentious ways of seeing the works and sharing it with others
How to think about technology — artists use it in a very straightforward way
Art that was about being fun, creating community, making the most insignificant moments of life something to think about, reinvent, … that attitude
Halfway between an artwork and a phrase… or something bring to share
Week 12: Final Discussion
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lGnstb8LG6mWRyFZoCPE0pP1rIrEpL53/view?usp=sharing