Reading Response 7

In reading Susan Sontag’s “In Plato’s Cave”, Sontag states “Photographs furnish evidence. Something we hear about, but doubt, seems proven when we’re shown a photograph of it” (Sontag 5). This seems very ignorant of Sontag to make this claim. In light of new technological developments in computer-generated imaging, it seems very illogical to apply the “see it to believe it” philosophy anymore. Humans are very visually oriented and therefore, when shown an image, our brain tells us that this must be true. However, everything we see in an image must be re-examined to determine legitimacy. Often, this process happens instantaneously, the brain tells us “no, this could never happen” or “I can believe that”. If the first response is generated, we must seek more proof in order to legitimize the event that the image is capturing. It is essentially the same thing that Robert Scholes advocates for in analyzing video texts. Analyzing visual text is the same thing, we must look for discrepancies in the image that would alert us to the possibility that the image is forged. Sometimes in scandals or other high media attention events, the proof is not legitimized before it is taken public. Such actions can be dangerous. The public viewing the image will respond as though the evidence is concrete proof because that is what they believe it is. Such things can cause great damage because a lack of digression.

However, if we can accept that without further proof, visual evidence is inconclusive what is there left? If we cannot trust our eyes to deliver accurate information without further skepticism, what can we use? Sounds, tastes, textures, and smells can be manufactured as well, therefore what do we have left to use? It almost seems that the only thing left is human instinct. But people need hard evidence to believe these days. As the years go by, people are less and less prepared to take things on faith. Therefore, in order to produce solid proof, we must once again turn to technology. Science and technology; just as they can be used to create illusion, can also be used to gain enlightenment. Only through scientific process can we legitimize information.

By disagreeing with Sontag, I have used logical process to find an alternative to photography that constitutes solid proof. I find it necessary to examine what constitutes belief to the human mind. By understanding what causes people to believe something, it makes persuasion as well as analysis of information, much easier.