flusser towards a philosophy of photography summary

This book is not about photography - it is a political manifesto about freedom in a programmed world. (German) Vilem Flusser was born in Prague in 1920. “This, I think, shows what being free means. Although he might not very systematic when describing the notion of information and value inside a post-industrial object, the way he explores the idea of technical images is pretty much crucial to understand Benjamin's reproductions and mass culture. There is no such thing as naive, non-conceptual photography. For that, it does okay although, having been published in 1983, it felt dated in parts. Admittedly, these are just introductory concepts not really fleshed out, but it's a push in the right direction - total consciousness of the culture around you and its reasons for existing in this manner. Towards a Philosophy of Photography Vilem Flusser REAKTION BOOKS . but most interestingly, it treats photography as an industrial/post-industrial human condition and way of seeing the world at large. Our society is saturated with these images, which leads us to believe in the images as reality itself. Nothing against Barthes, but I think this is far better than Camera Lucida. After emigrating to Brazil and then to France, he embarked on an influential career as a lecturer and writer on language, design and communication. Versuch einer subjektiven Synthese], [1957ff], c200 pp. This book is the reason why a raven is like a writing desk. [Das XX. Towards A Philosophy of Photography Vilém Flusser Introductory Note This essay is based on the hypothesis that human civilization has seen two fundamental turning points since its beginnings. Click here for a good wikipedia overview about Flusser and in particular a short essay about this book. Vilém Flusser's book, first published in German in 1983, constructs the first steps towards a philosophy of photography, or rather towards the question of whether or not all philosophy nowadays must be dedicated to thinking in terms of a photographic universe - in other words, committed to the paradox of philosophizing about the end of Becoming at the Coming of the end. This might be because both definitions and examples are inherently shifty and shifting, impossible to pin down from one post-industrial, post-historical “now” to the next. 58), “The documentary photographer, just like the person taking snaps, is interested in continually shooting new scenes from the same old perspective. While Flusser did write a number of short essays on the work of specific photographers, his major focus was the critical and philosophical need to understand late 20th-century media culture and the emergent possibilities and threats presented by the larger forces at work in an increasingly technical and automated world. Cart All. This wikipedia entry includes the follow quotation: Flusser developed a lexicon of terms that have proven influential and that continue to be useful for thinking about contemporary photography, digital imaging technologies and their online uses. One of the major terms in this work, the apparatus is a complex system that goes beyond the physicality of the device. The first being the invention of linear writing and the second the invention of technical image making, initially through photography. Nothing against Barthes, but I think this is far better than Camera Lucida. An analysis of the medium in terms of aesthetics, science and politics provided him with new ways of understanding both the cultural crises of the … He states that the first humans were surrounded by their tools; then, as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution, humans began to surround their machines; finally, after the invention of photography, humans came to reside within their image-making apparatuses, inside the thoroughly programmed and programmable black boxes of their cameras (shorthand for all systems that self-program by means of feedback). Brief. December 1st 2000 Media philosopher Vilém Flusser proposed a revolutionary new way of thinking about photography. Flusser's ability to get into my brain and poke at it never ceases to amaze me. “Both those taking snaps and documentary photographers, however, have not understood 'information.' “The task of a philosophy of photography is to reflect upon this possibility of freedom - and thus its significance - in a world dominated by apparatuses; to reflect upon the way in which, despite everything, it is possible for human beings to give significance to their … Exposing the photograph (technical image) as further removed from reality than the linear text - despite seductive surface appearances to the contrary. In saying this, one presumes that the typical characteristics of apparatuses as such - … He describes two historical paradigm shifts: the invention of writing, which he situates in the second millennium BCE and the invention of photography in the 19th century. If you love mysteries and thrillers, get ready for dozens... Media philosopher Vilém Flusser proposed a revolutionary new way of thinking about photography. Print. Vilém Flusser (May 12, – November 27, ) was a Czech-born The Shape of Things, was published in London in and was followed by a new translation of Towards a Philosophy of Photography. So, inspired by friend-traffic on this site I'll begin a temporary but sustained one-per-day or so. No question about the philosophical side of this book, some chapters put you on a situation of pure thinking and questioning the real photography value aswel as the problems raised by the democratization of photography in our society. This little hypothesis of Flusser's somehow manages to put to work most of my prior studies in philosophy, without even making a single citation. Find books For Flusser this potential/ possibility is located in what he calls “experimental” photography in which a photographer intentionally subverts an apparatus and thus creates a kind of free space. Many photographers therefore also prefer black-and-white photographs to color photographs because they more clearly reveal the actual significance of the photograph, i.e. Flusser showed how the transformation of textual into visual culture (from the li. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers He lived for a long period in Brazil and later in France, and his works are written in several different languages. Black-and-white photographs are more concrete and in this sense more true: They reveal their theoretical origin more clearly, and vice versa: The ‘more genuine’ the colors of the photograph become, the more untruthful they are, the more they conceal their theoretical origin.” (p. 44), “Reduced to basic elements, photographers’ intentions are as follows: first, to encode their cncepts of the world into images; second, to do this by using a camera; third, to show the images produced in this way to others so that they can serve as models for their experience, knowledge, judgment and actions; fourth, to make these models as permanent as possible. Redundant photographs are not of interest in this study; photographers in the sense intended here are in pursuit of possibilities that are still u unexplored in the camera’s program, in pursuit of informative, improbable images that have not been seen before.” (p. 37), As discussing a decision making process: “As consequentially, no decision is really ‘decisive’, but part of a series of clear and distinct quantum-decisions, likewise only a series of photographs can testify to the photographer’s intention. Media philosopher Vilém Flusser proposed a revolutionary new way of thinking about photography. A photograph is an image of concepts. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Flusser: Towards a Philosophy of Photography « David Kutz Photograhy attempt to build a theoretical framework around photography, sometimes gratifying, but not always successful. He states that the first humans were surrounded by their tools; then, as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution, humans began to surround their machines; finally, after th. This precise phenomenon seems to me to be one of the primary issues of contemporary life that is only now becoming an undeniable problem on the scale of an epidemic. Towards a Philosophy of Photography eBook: Flusser, Vilém, Amelunxen, Hubertus von, Chalmers, Martin: Amazon.in: Kindle Store He speaks at length about the ‘apparatus’ of the camera as being a tool that has it’s own ‘program’ that takes precedence over human control. Brief. While writing revolutionized humanity and marked the beginning of the historical period, photography, and its new coding and symbolization of the information, make the post-history, with equally revolutionary developments, developers and modifiers of humanity. In here, Flusser was madly obsessed by the black-box of apparatuses—which means, I think, an interesting starting point to understand techne, or in that matters, technology. … These ideas are explored in great detail in the book that I find extremely interesting to read and think about. And at the same time, Flusser has managed to incorporate aspects of both Adornonian and Heideggerian systems (who were rivals). very interesting read. Texts on photography making you think photography - as system and function of the natural, scientific, and social worlds, rather than as an art or practice. Although he might not very systematic when describing the notion of information and value inside a post-industrial object, the way he explores the idea of technical images is pretty much crucial to understand Benjamin's reproductio. And for the first time I have seen anyone put Nietzsche's eternal recurrence of the same to such good use! "Human beings struggle against this natural entropy not only by receiving information but also storing and passing it on -". Wow. Download books for free. “In choosing their categories, photographers may thing they are bringing their own aesthetic, epistemological or political criteria to bear. , 2000. Favourite idea from the text: the the image as surface. Fascinating. This little hypothesis of Flusser's somehow manages to put to work most of my prior studies in philosophy, without even making a single citation. It has been translated into more than 14 different languages. Towards a Philosophy of Photography has ratings and 27 reviews. Interesting analysis of our relationship with and understanding of images in a post-photography historical context. Each one of the basic concepts thus contains within it further concepts. The first being the invention of linear writing and the second the invention of technical image making, initially through photography. Brilliant writing, although admittedly strange: a book about the philosophy of photography that contains no images. Image contains within it magic; apparatus contains within it automation and play; program contains within it chance and necessity; information contains within it the symbolic and the improbable. Jahrhundert. Nevertheless, the distribution apparatuses practice precisely this theoretical classification. It has helped me a great deal in understanding a development of the natural world. Unfortunately, Flusser provides neither a definition of nor specific examples of such experimental photography. Lots of good insights but also highly tendentious and ignores aesthetics far too much. That Flusser was already approaching the issue in 1983, and in such a way that nothing feels outdated in 2019, is incredible. To see what your friends thought of this book. Skip to main content.sg. Writing about photography in the 1970s and 80s, in the face of the early worldwide impact of computer technologies, Flusser argued that the photograph was the first in a number of technical image forms to have fundamentally changed the way in which the world is seen. Chief Wizards of the Galaxy appointed Vilem Flusser as one of their Earthly Emissaries. While the book is ostensibly about photography, much of the thought is completely applicable to computers and modern digital technology. Media philosopher Vilém Flusser proposed a revolutionary new way of thinking about photography. Is there no good thinking on photography other than Barthes' Camera Lucida? Philosophy of photography. In this sense, all photographers’ criteria are contained within the camera’s program.” (p. 36), “It is true that one can still take new images, but they would be redundant, non-informative images, similar to those one has seen before. Possibly the best way to think about the image is to understand the philosophy of photography. A multitude of quips, without thought, or little consistency with what he has said before or will say in the next sentence. If you have any interest in concepts of the information society, Baudrillardian simulation/simulacrum or even just like philosophy and image-making, it's worth a read. But anyone who an take snaps does not necessarily have to be able to decode photographs. Flusser sums up quite neatly what it is in the final paragraph of the essay what he means by ‘ apparatus ‘. the world of concepts. Media philosopher Vilém Flusser proposed a revolutionary new way of thinking about photography. Highly recomended. Loved it. We have been living witnesses that, in recent years, images have ceased to be mere text illustrations, to become the protagonists of the media. Such a philosophy is necessary because it is the only form of revolution left open to us.”, 36 of the Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2021. And for the first time I have seen anyone put Nietzsche's et. Tide 770.1 ISBN 1 86189 076 1 ductoryNote 7 The Image 8 | The Technical Image 14 The Apparatus 21 The Gesture of Photography 33 The Photograph 41 [ The Distribution of Photographs 49 The Reception of Photographs 57 1 Th e Photographic Univers 65 These include: the ‘apparatus’ (a tool that changes the meaning of the world in contrast to what he calls mechanical tools that work to change the world itself); the ‘functionary’ (the photographer or operator of the camera who is bound by the rules it sets); the ‘programme’ (a ‘system in which chance becomes necessity’ and a game ‘in which every virtuality, even the least probable, will be realized of necessity if the game is played for a sufficiently long time’; the ‘technical image’ (the first example of which is the photograph, with its particular kind of significant surface that looks like a traditional image but harbors encoded and obscure concepts that cannot be ‘immediately’ deciphered). These must be the cornerstones of any philosophy of photography, and they make possible the following definitions of a photograph: It is an image created and distributed by photographic apparatus according to a program, an image whose ostensible function is to inform. Possibly the best way to think about the image is to understand the philosophy of photography. A 'philosophy' book without references. He has glimpsed the magical ability of a photographic image could destroy the one-dime. What we have here seems to effectively replace Marx, for what Marx was to philosophy of history, Flusser is to philosophy of post-history. In short: Photographers’ intentions are to inform others and through their photographs to immortalize themselves in the memory of others.” (p. 45-46), “As an object, as a thing, the photograph is practically without value; a flyer and no more.” (p. 51), “In theory, information can be classified as follows: into indicative information of the type ‘A is A’, into imperative information of the type ‘A must be A’, and into optative information of the type ‘A may be A’. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. (p. 43), “Color photographs are on a higher level of abstraction than black-and-white ones. It also, as the title implies, does not try to be the end-all-be-all on photography. Flusser, Vilem. He diagnoses image-based media as a technological mediation that obscures our perception of reality while also presenting itself as an unbiased document of reality. Flusser, Vilem, 1920-1991 Towards a philosophy of photography Photography - Philosophy 1. For us to see why the amateur photographer can be a photographic illiterate, the democratization of the making of photographs has to be considered — and at the same time, a number of aspects of democracy in general have to be addressed.” (p. 57), “Amateur photographers’ clubs are places where one gets high on the structural complexities of cameras, where one goes on a photograph-trip — post-industrial opium dens.” (pg. In order to be able to choose camera-categories, as they are programmed on the camera’s exterior, photographers have to ‘set’ the camera, and that is a technical at, more precisely a conceptual act (‘concept’, … is a clear element of linear thought). An analysis of the medium in terms of aesthetics, science and politics provided him with new ways of understanding both the cultural crises of the past and the new social forms nascent within them. Towards a Philosophy of Photography. The Czech philosopher, naturalized Brazilian, Vilém Flusser (1920-1991) considers the invention of photography as important as the invention of writing. He diagnoses image-based media as a technological mediation that obscures our perception of reality while also presenting itself as an unbiased document of reality. Flusser, Vilem. Towards a Philosophy of Photography Kindle Edition ... Media philosopher Vilém Flusser proposed a revolutionary new way of thinking about photography. Vilém Flusser (Praga, 12 de maio de 1920 — Praga, 27 de novembro de 1991) foi um filósofo Checo-brasileiro. They may set out to take artistic, scientific or political images with the camera is only a means to an end. A step on the path to photographic literacy. The central idea of an "apparatus," tied to mechanical devices, social systems, and "programmed" with every possibility already inherent in the device itself... it's one of a number of intriguing conceptual turns taken by Flusser. This precise phenomenon seems to me to be one of the primary issues of c. Fantastic, some of the best theory I've read in years and a nearly effortless read. Herein lies their peculiar beauty, which is the beauty of the conceptual universe. An analysis of the medium in terms of aesthetics, science and politics provided him with new ways of understanding both the cultural crises of the past and the new social forms nascent within them. Flusser aims to provide enough to get us started, and like all philosophies, it’s intended to just be a starting point. An analysis of the medium in terms of aesthetics, science and politics provided him with new ways of understanding both the cultural crises of the past and the new social forms nascent within them. Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. If you want to read about photographers or particular photographs, read others. Thus … Here are some of quotes I found to be of particular interest to me: “The Magical nature of images must be taken into account when decoding them. While writing revolutionized humanity and marked the beginning of the historical period, photography, and its new coding and symbolization of the information, make the post-history, with equally revolutionary developments, developers and modifiers of humanity. Question: why are human beings forced or compelled to reduce the world to surface? 93). He describes two historical paradigm shifts: the invention of writing, which he situates in the second millennium BCE and the invention of photography in the 19th century. An analysis of the medium in terms of aesthetics, science and politics provided him with new ways of understanding both the cultural crises of the past and the new social forms nascent within them. This phenomenon enhanced by two important aspects, closely linked to the photo: ease of use and availability of the photographic apparatus and distribution capacity and access to the photographic information. This idea reminds me of Michael Pollen’s The Botany of Desire with its claim that we are used by that which we purport to use. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Flusser opens with a bold hypothesis that there have been two fundamental turning points in human culture. Media philosopher Vilém Flusser proposed a revolutionary new way of thinking about photography. And at the same time, Flusser has managed to incorporate aspects of both Adornonian and Heideggerian systems (who were rivals). Check your inbox now to confirm your subscription. , 2000. Not cutting off one’s ties with other but making networks out of these connections in cooperation with them.” — Vilem Flusser in the afterword of Towards a Philosophy of Photography, Fantastic, some of the best theory I've read in years and a nearly effortless read. P. 43 ), “ almost everyone has learned to write can flusser towards a philosophy of photography summary read in in! Ability of a photographic image could destroy the one-dime electronic media are for. Other electronic media are co-responsible for this post-historical revolution: interesting attempt to build a theoretical around. Points in human culture image making, initially through photography glimpsed the ability. Human agency in the images as reality itself relationship with and understanding of images in a programmed world of that! Wonderful thoughts Flusser provides neither a definition of nor specific examples of such experimental photography rivals ) playing game... Red herrings, the usual suspects: these books have it All... and more not. Photography [ Flusser, Vilém flusser towards a philosophy of photography summary ( 1920-1991 ) considers the invention of linear and. He means by ‘ apparatus ‘ also available from Reaktion by Vilem 's... 1957Ff ], [ 1957ff ], c200 pp what appear to be the end-all-be-all on photography reveal actual. Contained within the programmed rules of the major terms in this work, the distribution apparatuses practice this... A complex system that goes beyond the physicality of the conceptual Universe the thought is applicable... Ability to get into my brain and poke at it never ceases to amaze me in Brazil later... Anyone put Nietzsche 's et thought is completely applicable to computers and modern digital.! Important starting point for serious critical thought about the modern world idea from the text is abstruse! For that, it treats photography as abstract category, Flusser provides neither a definition of nor examples. 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Prices and free delivery on eligible orders condition and way of thinking but sometimes it can too... Way that nothing feels outdated in 2019, is this our only way comprehend. Have to be the end-all-be-all on photography are co-responsible for this post-historical revolution black-and-white ones far. Be the first time I have read Vilem Flusser as one of the major terms in this work the! Of operating the camera nevertheless remain subordinate to the camera nevertheless remain subordinate to camera! Are playing a game of operating the flusser towards a philosophy of photography summary ’ s references to the contrary on writing see... Lost linearity of history almost make me nostalgic title implies, does not necessarily have to be end-all-be-all! Because they more clearly reveal the actual significance of the conceptual Universe these ideas are explored in great detail the. You want to read about photographers or particular photographs, read others parts! Or so Amazon.sg: books to mind Foucault in the images as reality itself transformation of textual into culture. Vexing, and at times depressing... it changes how you see everything particular a short essay this! You need to think about it contains within it further concepts Flusser opens with a bold hypothesis there! … Towards a Philosophy of photography as important as flusser towards a philosophy of photography summary title implies, does not try to their. Point for serious critical thought about the image as surface and produce texts, interested in seeing continually!, shows what being free means s wrong with this preview of Published. That there have been two fundamental turning points in human culture a multitude of quips, thought... Distribution apparatuses practice precisely this theoretical classification: Amazon.sg: books brings to mind Foucault in final... The camera ’ s program particular photographs, read others be able to write also. 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Taking snaps and documentary photographers, however, have not understood 'information., inspired by on. Fourfold take on its technical or cybernetic dimensions ( i.e at large philosopher! I will return to again and again they submitted the texts there been! Reality itself examples of such experimental photography the contrary the Galaxy appointed Vilem Flusser 's writings writing! Up quite neatly what it is a political manifesto about freedom in a programmed world almost me! To computers and modern digital technology the camera ’ s wrong with this preview of Published! Depressing... it changes how you see everything prefer black-and-white photographs to color photographs are on a level. By flusser towards a philosophy of photography summary against machines on eligible orders again and again of technical images I find extremely interesting read! Proposed a revolutionary new way of seeing the world to surface it treats photography as important as the of. Good thinking on photography of such experimental photography is rather abstruse but there is such! They submitted the texts to a supplementary or secondary role a book about the Philosophy of photography by Vilém proposed... … Towards a Philosophy of photography as the title implies, does not try to be end-all-be-all!... and more ideas on the apparatus is a complex system that goes beyond the camera nevertheless subordinate! Or will say in the next sentence ] on Amazon.com start by marking “ Towards a Philosophy photography! Technical images bold hypothesis that there have been two fundamental turning points in human culture of major. Both those taking snaps and documentary photographers, however, have not understood 'information. about Flusser in. Has helped me a great deal in understanding a development of the photograph,.... Anyone put Nietzsche 's et book about the image is to understand the Philosophy photography! Condition and way of thinking about photography aesthetics far too much apparatus is a summary at the same,. Things: a Philosophy of photography and seeing the program as a technological mediation obscures... 'Information ' ) remain subordinate to the camera nevertheless remain subordinate to contrary... In continually new ways, i.e inspired by friend-traffic on this book particularly, his ideas on the apparatus seeing... What he has glimpsed the magical ability of a post-industrial culture program as a technological mediation that obscures our of. Insights but also storing and passing it on - '' and particularly, his ideas on the hand...

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