Sontag Argument Essay

Introduction

Images have been essential to our understanding of history since the earliest civilizations used glyphs and paintings to record events in the absence of a written language. In the mid 1800s, photography supplanted painting as the easiest way to record history in images. Today, photography remains an important part of reinforcing knowledge that is written or spoken. However, we agree with Sontag’s claims that photography limits our understanding of the world by covering up negative truths, failing to reveal how contraptions works, and introducing bias into ethical and political knowledge.

Advantages of PhotosPhotographs continue to supplement other sources that inform humans

about their current and past world. – Photo Finishes

• Undisputed manner to determine winners of races

Advantages of Photos cont.– Photos of space and other plants

• Scientific research• Education

– Historical Photographs• Photos that accurately capture feelings• An older technology

Misleading ImageryHowever, by providing misleading images, photography gives us a false

sense of knowledge about the world.– Subway Subs

• Triple Meat

– Photoshop• Alters reality

– Colors– Drum– Waiter

Misleading Imagery cont.– Simulated Advertising

• Exaggeration• Unobtainable results – lies!• Intentionally misleads in order to sell

Looks, not functionsFurthermore, because photographs fail to show how something functions,

we cannot use photographs to learn true knowledge about the pictured objects and machines.

– History• We can only see what existed,

not its reason for existence

– Education• Photos act as supplements• Left to assume function

Looks, not functions cont.– American flag

• Appearance, not knowledge– Number of stars and stripes – why?– Colors of stripes – why?

Bias in ethics and politicsFinally, photographs can be used to easily manipulate people’s opinions

about ethics and politics.– Iran election

• Fully supported?

– Obama joker face• Socialist?

Bias in ethics and politics cont.– Tiananmen Square – doctored photo

• Protest appears stronger• Affects people’s memory of events

Conclusion

We agree with Sontag’s argument that photographs can severely limit knowledge. While they do have benefits, photographs must almost always be combined with other sources of information to truly educate an audience. When viewed by themselves, photographs can be misleading in advertising, education, and politics. Today, with photograph doctoring programs, such as photoshop, available to the general public, people must always take a photo with a grain of salt.

Sites (in order of appearance)• Photo finish:

http://thebrewster.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/crossing-the-finish-linejpg.jpeg • Photo of planet:

http://www.natureandscience.org/exhibits/images/space/space_clip_image002.jpg • Depression lady:

http://weblogs.cltv.com/news/local/chicago/the%20great%20depression%202.gif • Advertising sub: http://eswpartners.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/subway-canada.jpg • True sub: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1373/536780921_60cbf6c97a.jpg • Photoshopped lady:

http://www.marketingvox.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/photoshopped-jessica-alba1-before-and-after-2.jpg

• Less wrinkles: http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/1/13254/04_2008/wrinkles-1.jpg• Wright plane: http://www.bottomline.ws/images/wright-brothers-airplane-001.jpg • Vandergraph generator:

http://www.techsploration.com/affiliate%20pictures/VandegraphB.jpg • American flag: http://www.militarytrader.com/upload/images/American-Flag-Wall-Art.jpg• Iran photos: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1946595_2010928,00.html • Obama joker face: http://obamalies.net/images/obama_joker_face.jpg • Tiananmen square: http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2007/11/071119213945.jpg