Module: Practicing Sociology
Week 7 – Visual Sociology and Ethics
Do photographs reflect reality?
No – because the angle of photographs can paint a very different picture.
Images can be Photoshopped to distort the reality
People can create a false reality – the existence of Deepfakes makes it
difficult to distinguish what is real and what is not.
Photographs can be staged
There are different ways in which reality is portrayed
A naturalistic photograph does not necessarily mean that it’s absolutely
genuine – the people may have been asked to take a specific pose.
There are accidental photographs that seem to tell a story
There are limitations in photographs representing the truth
Back then photographs had the effect of being able to see the truth for
yourselves.
Images can generate shock
As technology progressed and people got used to the technology, people are
able to see through the intention/motive.
You cannot see the photographer – they are the ones who choose who to
include in the frame and can edit it.
Photographs do not tell the pure truth, we have to take the photographer’s
interest in account.
The existence of Instagram is testament to how powerful photography can be.
Photography has the power to evoke social issues.
Photographs are powerfully communicative – it can cross cultural barriers. We
get an immediate sense of the story out of a picture.
How we look at pictures depends on our existing knowledge of what we think
is going on in the world.
Photographs can trigger conversations and stories.
Photographs can tell us the reality but we need to account for the biases.
Holistic
Reflexivity makes you think about who you are, why you are doing things,
helps you understand your position with others. To think about ourselves in
context.
Grenfell Tower – the image of it is used today as a provocation for justice. It
can push an agenda for change much more profoundly than the use of words.
A powerful photograph can invite intervention into a social issue.
Images used in sociology
Week 7 – Visual Sociology and Ethics
Do photographs reflect reality?
No – because the angle of photographs can paint a very different picture.
Images can be Photoshopped to distort the reality
People can create a false reality – the existence of Deepfakes makes it
difficult to distinguish what is real and what is not.
Photographs can be staged
There are different ways in which reality is portrayed
A naturalistic photograph does not necessarily mean that it’s absolutely
genuine – the people may have been asked to take a specific pose.
There are accidental photographs that seem to tell a story
There are limitations in photographs representing the truth
Back then photographs had the effect of being able to see the truth for
yourselves.
Images can generate shock
As technology progressed and people got used to the technology, people are
able to see through the intention/motive.
You cannot see the photographer – they are the ones who choose who to
include in the frame and can edit it.
Photographs do not tell the pure truth, we have to take the photographer’s
interest in account.
The existence of Instagram is testament to how powerful photography can be.
Photography has the power to evoke social issues.
Photographs are powerfully communicative – it can cross cultural barriers. We
get an immediate sense of the story out of a picture.
How we look at pictures depends on our existing knowledge of what we think
is going on in the world.
Photographs can trigger conversations and stories.
Photographs can tell us the reality but we need to account for the biases.
Holistic
Reflexivity makes you think about who you are, why you are doing things,
helps you understand your position with others. To think about ourselves in
context.
Grenfell Tower – the image of it is used today as a provocation for justice. It
can push an agenda for change much more profoundly than the use of words.
A powerful photograph can invite intervention into a social issue.
Images used in sociology
