Practices of Looking, Chapter 1 Summary

In this chapter the difference between "looking" and actually "seeing" something are presented. Initially, I viewed "looking" as an act with more involvement between the onlooker and the subject and "seeing" as an act of observing but not participating. "Looking" is how we create our own meaning and significance in the world and "seeing" is almost a involuntary action of viewing things everyday. "Looking" takes more of an analytical perspective and also involves relationships of power. The overall purpose of "looking" is to communicate, influence, and be influenced.

The multiplicity of meanings within images is also discussed and the interpretation of an image can differ from person to person. Images and media are dependent on each other for increased meaning. Technology of images is important in our understanding of visual media.

When something is represented it's described using words or images which creates a unique meaning for us as individuals in the world. The material world can only be represented using our systems of language. Reflection may contain deeper symbolic meanings. Representation is a process that aids us to construct the world around us. A representation of something is not the same as the thing itself and there is a complicated nature around the relationship between words and images.

Photography can acts as a method of representation in regards to framing and perspective. The compilation of the subjective versus the objective is the main source of tension in images captured on camera. Photography's roots stemmed from an emphasis on Positivism which focused on visual evidence for the core basis of truth. Photography acts as a slice of life that truly captures a moment and is an "unmediated copy of the real world".

Connotative meaning is the obvious and clear meaning that an image has when you first look at it. Using Magritte's pipe the connotative meaning would be simply that it is a pipe. Denotative meaning which is a deeper meaning that examines the image further the meaning of Magritte's image would be that the image merely shows a representation of a pipe but not the pipe itself. Using these ideas in determining photographic truth is very useful as there is usually deeper meaning behind the surface of a photograph. Photographic truth can be manipulated with technology which in our more modern times discounts the idea that all photographs can communicate inherent truth.

Ideologies are a system of beliefs that exist within a culture and to understand images we must also understand the underlying ideologies behind them. Importantly, ideologies appear to be natural rather than part of a produced belief system in a culture. Decoding images comes with an association of culture and our interpretation of clues in the images to create meaning.

Signifier = Sound, written word, or image

Signified = Concept evoked by that word or image

Image icons can gain meaning from which the original creator didn't intent and can represent universal concepts, emotions, and meanings. Icons are created through cultural relevance and prominence.

The "Make Art Not War" poster created during the Iraq War when looked at initially can be viewed as a artistic and confidence woman who advocates for making art. The signified concept of this piece would be that the world needs to focus on more creative rather than destructive acts for the betterment of society. Some context behind the image also gives that the phrase was inspired by the 1960's "Make Love Not War" anti-war mantra and draws power from that association as well. The style of this piece mimics the anti-Vietnam war posters and also is meant to mimic the emotions that these original posters conveyed.