- camera lucida

Camera Lucida: The Inevitability of Death

freddie — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:10:13 +0000

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.

Exploring the Eidos of Photography

sarasanders — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:14:35 +0000

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.

Camera Lucida Part II

b_montoni — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 05:28:54 +0000

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".

Understanding Camera Lucida Part II

maxilia — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:42:51 +0000

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.

Camera Lucida . . . . . ?

Jerrica Williams — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:10:22 +0000

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.

Language and Photography

NLopez786 — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:12:54 +0000

Camera Lucida could probably lead to a million topics to discuss (maybe even more?)

When I opened my book I saw a little not on the corner of p 76 that said "What is meaning in terms of language" After re-reading page 76, I realize that note was clearly not for that page, but it is nonetheless a very significant topic that I cannot stop thinking about.

The Changing World

NLopez786 — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:23:19 +0000

When I first read Camera Lucida, I read through it quickly, taking in each point as "elements of photography". However, after discussing it in class and re-reading some of it, I have a completely different perspective of this book.

Camera Lucida

hlee — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:31:54 +0000

In front of the camera, unless one is a complete natural in the spotlight, he or she changes. It’s normal for people to pose in front of the lens. I tend to smile, make a funny face, or just glare at the camera. A photograph captures a moment in time, and no photograph is exactly like another because time is constantly flowing. We’re constantly changing too. We’re never the same as we were when the photograph was taken.

Class Discussion: Camera Lucida

b_montoni — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:10:25 +0000

The class discussion in todays class absolutely blew me away with all the information and detail that Barthes was getting across in the first few pages of the book. When I initially read it, I did not find it too difficult to read aside from all the parenthetical statements he was making. However, after reviewing what we read in class, it felt like I read a different book.

J. Wood- a photographer like no other

Patty — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:38:23 +0000