Reading: In Our Own Image by Fred Ritchin

What does Ritchin mean with the “fluidity of the digital”? Give an example of digital imaging/digital photography that exemplifies this.

Ritchin uses the concept “fluidity of the digital” to state that “the fidelity of the mechanical age was being replaced by the fluidity of the digital.” With the rapid development of digital devices and technology, it is easier to produce photos and edit photos. Photographic works can be fake and different from the truth. It is more and more used for commercial, amusement, and political uses than history and memory.

One of the examples that exemplifies the “fluidity of the digital” is the magazine cover of O.J. Simpson, which is also illustrated in the reading. The June 27, 1994, issue of Newsweek featured O.J. Simpson’s mug shot. Time magazine drew ire for digitally manipulating the same picture to darken Simpson’s skin and make him appear unshaven and blurrier. Photography is not only serving as a witness but also has its own perspectives which are subjective. 

 

Reflect on the extent to which photography is capable of capturing reality; and compare it to other media (technology) (e.g. text, video, virtual reality, books). 

Photography contains more direct information than the text, which is more visually attractive than the books. However, in most cases, photography can only focus on a moment o the event, but the text, video, and virtual reality can provide a thorough record. Text and books have a stronger sense of argumentation and persuasion, for writers and authors to share their own opinions. Photography leaves more space for the audience and viewers to imagine and give the works a second meaning. Photography may capture reality to an extent, but digital media like computers or photo editing may distort that reality. VR technology is already widely used now, which provides users free access to instant feelings and experiences that they can’t get in the real world, which is a kind of spreading the reality.

 

Reference:

In Our Own Image by Fred Ritchin