Participation through Photography

In response to Susan Sontag, “In Plato’s Cave” in On Photography (1977), pp. 1-21. 
A reading I did for my 'Critical Approaches to Photography' module. 

(FIGURE. 1) 

Many of us pick up a camera to take a photograph without awareness of the more intricate reasons that explain why we do it. What I found most interesting about Susan Sontag’s chapter ‘In Plato’s Cave’ is her focus on, and description of, the various motivations behind our habitual use of the camera. Discussing Photography as a tool that incites and enables feelings of power, knowledge, possession, aggression, and most interestingly, participation. 

Whether using the camera to evidence that you are having fun, that you have made a trip, baked a cake or to show off your new puppy; it seems there is a growing need (and pressure) to proclaim one’s existence within today’s social (networking) culture. As Sontag describes: "photography has become a principle device for experiencing something, for giving the appearance of participation". Written in 1971, I would argue that this statement is even truer today; with modern technologies (the iPhone, iPad & laptop) and networks (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) cementing this use of the camera as a day-to-day, minute-to-minute social rite, particularly among today’s youth culture. 

Sontag later goes on to suggest that this use of the camera is simultaneously an act of ‘non-intervention’. By staring at an event through a lens (or now more commonly, a screen) (Fig. 1), are we participating in the event or in the act of documenting it? 

‘Stop, take a photo, move on’ seems to be a fitting descriptor of much of today’s social behaviour. With the need to demonstate you have a thriving social life (or at the very least an existence) now commonplace, the camera has become an integral tool of social participation - a dependence which will undoubtedly continue to grow.

I have something ridiculous like '62 Albums' on Facebook. I always thought I took photos to remember a certain moment, or to be nostalgic, however it is rare that I click on an Album from 3 months ago, let alone 3 years! By appearing on peoples 'NewsFeed', each as a broadcaster of our own lives, we are filled with the frequently sub-conscious responsibility to document it thoroughly for the sake of others, as well as (or perhaps more than) ourselves. 

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*This is in reference to one of many motivations behind photo taking, and is not trying to be universally descriptive*