Reading Reflection #2

1. “…looking involves relationships of power” (p. 13).
2. Sometimes looking is a choice. Whether we look at an image or not (p. 13).
3. One image can have multiple or different purposes (p. 13).
4. We give images power, depending on what it may represent (p.13).
5. Images are used to cause awareness or even harm (p. 15).
6. The practices of looking are deeply connected with photography and journalism (p. 16).
7. Throughout the years technology has advanced as well as journalism that even citizens are reporting on public events or disasters (p.16).
8. “Looking in itself can be a form of power” (p.17).
9. When we use images or language to bring meaning to the things around us, its called representation (p. 18).
10. There are systems that have rules and conventions that help with expressing and translating meanings (p. 19).
11. We learn the rules of representation in a culture (p.20).
12. Labeling happens with certain images (p. 21).
13. Visual culture is not all about images but also about how we observe or look at things (p. 22).
14. Images can explain power (p. 23).
15. Photographic truth is a myth because of the different meanings behind images and skepticism (p. 26).
16. Alterations can be made with photographs (p. 27).
17. “The denotative meaning of the image refers to its literal, explicit meaning…Connotative meanings are informed by the cultural and historical contexts of the image and its viewer’s lived, felt knowledge of those circumstances…” (p. 29).
18. There are also different meanings when it comes to smiles in text (p.31).
19. “Our interpretation of images depends on historical context and our cultural knowledge…” (p. 33).
20. Images are also important to ideology and practices of looking are intimately tied to ideology (p. 37,38).
21. “Images icons are often experienced as universal, yet their meanings are always historically and contextually produced” (p. 45).
22. As we look at images we influence their meanings and uses (p.48).

Reflection

Many of these bulleted points correlate with one another. For example, the author talks much about how we as humans make the choice to look at or not to look at a certain image; however, the practice of looking has many influences. Our ideology, beliefs, or history can influence our practices of looking. When we look at an image we connect a specific meaning to it as well. The meaning behind the image is also influenced by our history or beliefs. One idea that I definitely agree with is how photography can be manipulated truth. With the advanced technology, we are able to manipulate images or meanings that photographs are trying to convey. Personally, I don not think that photographs depict truth. What I can apply to my work is paying attention to my bias perspective when looking at images. The ability to understand that I come with specific views that may alter my practices of looking is very important. There were several points that I could not understand because I have not studied such ideas before. However, it was much of an eye opener, literally.