Response to Susan Sontag

1 September 2011

How do we know that the mountains outside are “real” mountains? How do we know what “real” mountains are? We don’t. Just like the prisoners in Plato’s Cave never realized that the shadows they saw were in fact people, we have no way of being certain that what we see is real. Although we live in the 21st century and are exposed to a great level of technology, there is still a possibility that we live in an illusion. Maybe we believe in that illusion in order to create a sense of comfort for ourselves. On a daily basis I perceive the world to be real. I learn from the things around me, and I apply my knowledge to create change and growth in my life. As I read about Plato’s philosophy and how he questions reality, I began to inquire about the world around me as well.

This similar occurrence happens when one appreciates photography. The author of On Photography, Susan Sontag, states that we live in mere images of the truth. Sontag believes that these mere images are photographs. In other words, if we live in these photographs, then we are not necessarily living in reality. Photographs make things come into existence, but they are only capturing life through a very small lens. Even though you can learn from these photographs, as soon as the view is specified, the meaning changes. Interestingly enough, the only thing that changes is the meaning. The camera is what is separating you from the photo and the real world. It acts as a shield, and unless that camera is removed, you have no way of interacting. When we look at a photograph, we are seeing what is in that photograph. But, what we are seeing is not necessarily reality. Therefore, the only way to confirm what we see is without a camera lens. The camera lens does not question the existence of things; it changes reality and the meaning of it.

Again, due to technology, photography is becoming more and more popular. People take pictures to confirm that their experience was indeed real. They use their photographs as evidence of reality as if no one would believe what they saw really existed. It follows the same pattern as what I discussed earlier in relation to the mountains.  If people use photographs to prove what they see, it is possible that we use what we “see”, to prove that something is real as well. Even though photographs make things seem real, they do not give us a clear understanding of anything. They are left open for interpretation, and if you are the individual that took the picture then your understanding will be affected.

Whether it is a photograph or anything else, those mere images can change the way we perceive the entire world. When we look at photographs and see through that camera lens, we make a conscious decision of whether to believe in it or not. That choice determines the outcome of our actions and reactions. Plato’s philosophy states that this same effect occurs when you are not looking at things through a lens. What happened to the prisoners could be happening to us as well. The way we perceive the world and create illusions, make us feel in control, allows us to move on, and ultimately help us live our lives.  Sontag states, “Today everything exists to end in a photograph.” I agree with her statement and I would add on that we use those photographs to fill in blanks, to learn from, and to see new things. As each photo is added to our collection we create our own interpretations and our outlook on the world is altered.

Alfred Stieglitz

Alfred Stieglitz, born in New Jersey, grew up in a big army family. He was known to be the man that made photography an acceptable form of art. He was a very important figure in art history. He was not only a photographer, but he was a supporter and promoter to other photographers. Stieglitz was also a writer and editor of "The American Amateur Photographer" magazine. He was a part of two major photography clubs and was nominated to lead them. He eventually merged the two clubs into one. Alfred Steiglitz played a major role in making photography what is is today.

George Eastman

George Eastman was the creator of roll film and the founder of Eastman Kodak Company. He was an American businessman, philanthropist, and innovator. He established several schools in his name including the Eastman school of music and other medical and dentistry schools. George Eastman was born and grew up in a family of five in New York. He helped his mother put him through school, but he left early and began developing roll film. He was from a family known for their philanthropic contributions and was a big part of following in his legacy.

Richard Leach Maddox

Richard Leach Maddox was born in England in the early 1800's. He was a photographer known for his photography of micro organisms under the microscope. After practicing his microphotography for a while, he discovered the lightweight gelatin dry plate process. This was based off of Fredrick Archer's wed plate collodion process. After multiple trials, Maddox's work succeeded and he created a new and improved dry plate process that allowed one to save negatives, and gave people the ability to use commercial dry plates off of the shelf. He ultimately opened the road to cinematography.

Lewis Hine

Lewis Hine was an American photographer and sociologist. He used his artwork to change laws and to make a statement. Specifically, he used them to change child labor laws. Hine studied sociology at a couple of universities. He had the opportunity to study at New York University and take field trips to Ellis Island and photograph the immigrants. He realized soon after that his passion was photojournalism.

Jacob Riis

Jacob Riis grew up in a family of fifteen in Denmark. He was a Danish-American reformer that practiced journalism and photography. Riis had goals of becoming a carpenter. His father did not approve of his dream. He wanted Jacob to pursue a literary career. Trying to become a carpenter and going to carpentry school was expensive. When Riis used all of his money, he decided to fight in the German-France war. His   position in the war brought him to his interest in journalism and that later led him to photography. He began  by sketching and moved to photograph plates and eventually flash photography.

Timothy O'Sullivan

Similarly to Alexander Gardner, Timothy O'Sullivan was an American photographer known for his artwork of the American Civil war. He actually joined Gardner in his work after he fought in the Civil war.  O'Sullivan was commissioned first lieutenant and fought in several battles throughout the war. When he joined Gardner, his photograph named "The Harvest of Death" was recognized as his most famous photograph. As his career continued, he followed United States president Ulysses Grant through other battles and photographed them. His work was considered to be the first record of prehistoric ruins of these wars.