Here is version one:
Here is version two:
So, which version tells the truth about what is going on at the time? Some may argue that it is version one, because that one shows the what is going on outside of the main focus of the scene. Others may argue that it is version two, because this one shows, in detail, the scene that the photographer was trying to show.
In my opinion, neither of these of very "truthful". In order to fully understand a scene like the one depicted in this photo, you not only have to know what is going on at the time of the photo, but what events preceded it and what the effects of it were. Otherwise, although it seems like we are getting the full picture, we are only getting a snapshot (haha, pun) of what was really happening.
So it seems as if every piece of news we encounter in our life is cropped in some way. Somethings have been cut out, and some have been placed in for a certain reason. Whether because the news source is bias or because they simply did not have enough room in their story to put certain pieces of information in. Just something to think about.
Although you bring up an interesting point, I have to disagree. I believe that both images show the same "amount" of truth, if you will. What one sees, is what one believes. Even though this image may be fake, (for example, lets say one photo was photoshopped) there is still a truth behind the photo. The truth is that the photo was photoshopped. Even though the truths are different, in my mind, they still "weigh in" on the same truth level...they just have different truths. I believe everything has a truth to it, eve lies! Just because you don't know the truth, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If you say that neither of these images are truthful, then are you saying both these pictures are lies?
ReplyDeleteVERY interesting blog post, I enjoyed it very much!
Sarah, that's a really interesting question. Truth and lies are opposites, but can there be some kind of middle ground? Some people might argue that a white lie isn't really a lie, others say that it is, even if it's a "good idea" to lie in order to protect someone else. Some people also think that if the whole truth isn't being shown then it's a lie, for example if I tell my parents I got an A on my physics test but neglect to mention a C on a math test, am I lying or telling the truth? Maybe both. I think that what Jon is arguing with his post is that since the whole truth isn't portrayed in a photo, then a person can't measure the amounts of truth against each other. I don't know if the idea of the "whole truth" even exists.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn -- It's interesting to me that you bring up the idea of the "whole truth". I think that a truth can only be a whole truth if it is a stated fact, like "her shirt is purple". There is no middle ground, only the fact. Once any other information is added, like a "Made in China" tag, other questions follow, like "by whom?" and "under what conditions?" As soon as anything other than the basic fact is given, information is being cropped out.
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