In our last class discussion of Camera Lucida Professor Bergman expatiated upon her favorite segment of the book: "...the punctum is: he is going to die. I read at the same time: This will be and this has been; I observe with horror an anterior future of which death is the stake. By giving me the absolute past of the pose (aorist), the photograph tells me death in the future. What pricks me is the discovery of this equivalence.

       A couple of years ago, there was a fire in my apartment building. One neighbor’s failure to properly put out his cigarette burned down three adjacent apartments, one of which was my friends. In recalling the story of how his father had discovered his apartment was on fire, my friend related that there had only been enough time to grab some photographs. Of all the jewelry, clothing and decorations, why were his photographs more important? This brings me back to the discussion of the eidos of photography, which Barthes describes as death.

          Part II of Camera Lucida turned my understanding completely around. The first part concluded with a discussion of a number of photographs and the elements of photography such as studium, punctum, referent as well as the ideas on ontology and semiotics. Part two focuses on other ideas like the "winter garden photograph". In the second part of the book Barthes says "painting can feign reality" while photography can not because a photograph involves something "that has been".

 I've come to a conclusion in regards to the content of this book. It seems after all that the book is, in fact, far from a reflection on photography as it claims to be. Instead I view it as a hidden autobiographical piece of literature. Barthes seems to talk about himself a great deal and refuses to take on the perspective of someone other than him. For instance, when he describes photography he limits himself to undergoing the photograph or observing the image, both roles he has played.

The oh so sweet Camera Lucida. Ha ! This book is FAR from any wonderfully delicious treat I've ever eaten. Camera Lucida is definitely one of the most difficult books I have ever read, and I am still determining if it lands at lucky number one. When were given this book, I admit, I was a tad bit angry that we were given this as an assignment. "This is a book given to graduate students!", Dr. Bergman said. "Soooo, why are WE reading it" I thought . But then, I thought, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I can get through this book. I was wrong.