| This page contains an abstracted
version of a talk I gave at Siggraph 96, in a panel called "Breaking
the Myth: A Picture is Not (Always) Worth 1000 Words." As an
artist I am concerned with the value of images, and as a writer I
am equally concerned with words. I think we are moving towards a culture
where images will matter more, and this disturbs me. The talk explained
why; these notes summarize some of the key points.
Pictures Lie
All images are bounded in time and space. Whether they are photographic
or synthetic, stills or films, they still capture only some specific
region of space and time. Anything that goes on outside of that
region is unknown. The simple act of framing in time and space expresses
value judgements and relationships. In expressing subjective opinions
such as these, one must commit sins of omission and commision.
Visual Culture Prefers Pictures
In a visual culture, pictures are more important than words. This
is because images are often considered more truthful than text,
which obviously requires interpretation. Phrases like "The
camera never lies" and "I'll believe it when I see it"
express the value we place on the seemingly direct interpretation
of images.
"Did you get it?" becomes "Did you see it?"
An image is expected to speak for itself. Text becomes only another
visual design element, no more nor less important than any other.
Magazines like Mondo 2000, Ray Gun, and Wired are all but unreadable,
and they don't seem to mind; the text is not terribly important.
Pictures Show Things
Images present external representations: ads, faces, products. Internal
human states can only be communicated by their physical manifestation.
Strong moods and emotions that read clearly work best for imagery.
These tend to be negative or confrontational: anger, conflict, and
competitiveness work well.
But they must be physical; millions watch athletics, but people
laugh at televised chess. Even though two world-class players are
facing off one-on-one with enormous stakes at risk in an environment
of fierce competition, chess is not visually exciting. Important
human states are all but unapproachable: how do you make an image
of integrity?
The Promises of Visual Culture
Visual culture promises that it's good news. We are told that images
need no interpretation, and any bias they might have is obvious.
Visuals are honest, objective, and true. And because they can be
so easily decontextualized, they are unifying.
The Deceit of Visual Culture
These promises are false. Visuals are inherently ambiguous, and
require text for specific interpretation. An image that is unambiguous
in meaning must be shallow in content; with increased depth comes
increased uncertainty about what is being said.
"You can't trust everything you see" becomes "You
can't trust anything you see." Even before deliberate high-quality
image manipulation, the message carried by images was doctored to
tell a specific story. Now, visual images have no reliability as
an accurate representation of external consensus reality.
Presentation Triumphs Over Idea
How you appear is more important that what you say. This is true
throughout the visual culture. You can see it any weeknight when
the visual culture is at its most profound - the "serious"
TV news shows such as MacNeil-Lehrer or Nightline. While claiming
to provide content, they damage an issue simply by the way they
must force it into the format of the show. People try to win, not
discuss. You win with the best argument, not the best information.
The so-called Presidential debates every four years are nothing
but image.
Images cannot discuss themselves. Images cannot provide a forum
for discussing the inherent limitations of images. And visual imagery
has no mechanism for discussing other modes of discourse that can
present other interpretations; that is, visual imagery cannot go
meta and it cannot go outside itself.
The Fate of Citizens
Mander has pointed out that a creature can respond to its environment
in four basic ways, depending on the demands and rewards of the
environment and the preferences of the creature. This extends to
the visual culture, where our choices are to adapt, rebel, go crazy,
or die.
The Dishonesty of Visual Culture
The problem is not imagery itself but the increasing dominance of
imagery over text. The visual culture does not deliver on its promises.
Images are deeply biased, and inherently ambiguous. Decontextualization
destroys meaning and invites fragmentation. Critical individual
thought is devalued.
Fight Back: Read and Think!
Here are six books that I recommend for stirring up the juices.
The first two are novels, the next three are social criticism,
and the last is contemporary philosophy.
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