Lecture Notes: Susan Sontag's "In Plato's Cave" from On Photography

Introduction

• Notice: Disturbing images will be shown briefly during the lecture.
• Discussion focuses on Susan Sontag's "In Plato's Cave," a chapter from her book On Photography.
• The unit on visual imagery starts with John Berger's Ways of Seeing and Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

Key Concepts

Plato's Allegory of the Cave

• Reference: Sontag references the allegory where humans linger in ignorance, perceiving reality as mere shadows.
• Photography is likened to capturing these "shadows," giving a false sense of knowledge and power.

Photography and Knowledge

• Appropriation: To photograph is to appropriate reality, creating a sense of knowledge that feels like power.
• Illusion of Knowledge: Seeing images of events (e.g., climbing Everest, war) feels like understanding, but without experience, true knowledge is lacking.
• Photographs as Evidence: They provide evidence of events, shaping perceptions and potentially deceiving.

Photography as Performance

Social and Family Photography

• Public Performance: Images are used to perform and display idealized versions of life (e.g., weddings, family portraits).
• Cultural Norms: Family photos document connection, often portraying an idealized vision of family life.

Control of Narrative

• Self-Representation: Use of photography in dating apps and social media to control and craft personal narrative.
• Vacation Photos: Sharing images to document and evidence experiences.

Consent and Ethics in Photography

Personal Privacy

• Examples: Personal experiences where photos were taken without consent, leading to discomfort.
• Children's Images: Ethical concerns about sharing images of children who cannot consent.

Photojournalism and Ethics

• Non-Intervention: Photographers traditionally document without intervening, raising ethical questions.
• Impact of Images: The power of images like Kevin Carter’s photo of a starving child, raising debate on observer's role.

Historical Impact of Photographic Images

War Photography

• Civil War and Vietnam: Images intended to sway public opinion sometimes backfired, deepening divisions or numbing audiences.
• Impactful Images: Photos of Vietnam War atrocities had significant public impact.

Numbing Effect

• Desensitization: Constant exposure to violent images risks desensitizing public, losing emotional impact.

Conclusion

• Awareness: Sontag's work remains relevant, encouraging readers to question the ethical implications of photography.
• Future Reading: Encouraged to read Sontag’s On Photography and explore her broader work.

Next Steps

• Upcoming video lecture will delve into Errol Morris's "Will the Real Hooded Man Please Stand Up," exploring the interpretation of photographic evidence post-9/11.

These notes provide a high-level overview of the lecture on Sontag's "In Plato's Cave," focusing on the philosophical and ethical dimensions of photography, the illusion of knowledge it can create, and the societal and personal implications of image-making.