Terry Barrett

The Terry Barrett article, Photographs and Contexts, delved into how the context of photographs changes by the manner in which the image is presented, how aesthetic demands are placed by culture, and how to properly define photography. She used Robert Doisneau's photograph of two people drinking wine as an example of how an image can change based on context. The photo was used in various magazines and his photo began to convey different meanings based on the who presented it. His photograph was used with and without his permission. The original, as is quality of his photograph began to change and transform based on what the agenda was for each person or group. Another interesting point was made by the photographer Susan Sontag. She believes that culture demands both aesthetics and information from the photographer. She also expressed that if photos give sympathy, they also create a distance and apathy as well. Crimp expresses his concern on how the iconic persona behind the photograph is becoming the focus rather then the context of the photo itself. He stated, "In order for the new aesthetic understanding of photography to occur, other ways of understanding it must be dismantled or destroyed". The article helped me to see what the issues surrounding photography are and the challenge in defining photography as an art concerning photojournalism. Is it the person taking the photo that gives value to the image or the information and aesthetics used to present the idea/person/place/ or thing? These are very important things to be thinking about if one wants to make meaningful work.