Abstract:
Photography has become ubiquitous in contemporary experience,
manifesting mostly onscreen. This paper explores the scopophilic trends of
modern, post-modern and contemporary living as anticipated in the work
of Freud and affirmed by Lacan in the coinage scopic regime. It explores
how pervasive imaging has become today and exposes how layered the
visual can be in contemporary society. Locating photography’s place in
contemporary experience brings into focus decades of thought on semiotic
discussions. These discussions introduce the political, social and cultural
aspects of photographic experience from the 18th century till date. Enwezor’s
reflections on the ubiquity, form and power that the image wields especially
on contemporary society, condense these contextual implications the
image conjures. Our conclusion is that, despite the unease about the impact
of the image on society, it seems to have come to stay as a constructor of contemporary life. This paper therefore introduces the photographic image
and highlights some of the concerns that surfaced with its introduction.
Important theories and trends are discussed with respect to the proliferation
of the image today. The imaging technologies and culture of modern men are
explored while the coded messages that images transmit are exposed. Views
and projections of critical thinkers from different generations and locations
are helpful in analyzing the culture of viewing that has pervaded the living
conditions of the 21st century citizen. The conclusion is clearly a matter of
interpretation since the discovery of the truth in an image is subjective.
