- To what degree can a self-portrait be taken to be an accurate representation of whom it portrays? If that is even possible?
If representation is ever accurate?
If not, the degree to what representation is accurate
How much our subconscious may affect our opinion
How much perception is important in determining an accurate depiction.
Context adds to the representation
Perhaps style is important i.e. Picasso cubism is important to his style, unique
Perhaps each representation is an accurate portrayal of you in a possible world, not this actual world--------------------------------------------
Beginning with representational styles... Perhaps the painters and look at it from a historical point of view, Van Gogh. Introduces 'introspection'
Look at other photographers for the importance of accuracy, literal accuracy? Or perhaps more conceptual understanding can someone be reduced to pixels, how much is that actually saying about someone?
Cindy Sherman - created realities, not real, but her style is real. Don't we all put on facades?
Diane Arbus, a lot of what she said is interesting and worthy of looking at
Photographer of nudity, John coplans... naked portraits, even more truth = less clothes?
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Look at metacognitive / Freudian side of the subconcsious to see how this affects our actions, if our actions are predetermined then is it ever possible to have an accurate representation?
psychodynamic point of view, ie freud and the unconscious. Psychoanalytic theory is much more open to interpretation - could draw upon unconscious processes influencing your decision towards a picture.
mood congruence; the way in which you might select a picture might be influenced by your internal mood state at that time.
projection/introjection. In selecting or taking a
certain image, it might be down to projection of unconscious things you
aren't aware of. -----------------
My own imagery, to give my own opinion on this exact thing and talk a out my process, perhaps this would not aid in supporting my thoughts
Seer, this may be the most important factor in the essay, perception precedes representation, it is the seer that determines how something is seen, not the photographer... therefore the essence of the essay lies here.
social media sites such as Facebook in which this is happening all the time, is the image they give as a 'profile picture' an accurate representation... when all the context is available along with the profile if of is friends, if not and the profile appears hidden then one may then draw upon a blank in understanding and so this then points to an accurate representation depending upon the context and available information, a coherentism?
Possible worlds, perhaps ALL representations ARE an actual representation of ourselves on a non-actual possible world David Lewis research...
Conclusion
(perhaps my thought is that it's all context dependent, which is why it leads to social media to see this
Simon Johnson
www.thephilosophicalphotographer.co.uk
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