The Photo-as-Thing : Photography and Thing Theory

Breitbach, Julia

The Photo-as-Thing : Photography and Thing Theory

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Date

2011

Publication type

Journal article

Published in

European Journal of English Studies ; 15 (2011), 1. - pp. 31-43. - ISSN 1382-5577

Abstract

Taking its cue from the recent expansion of critical focus towards the very materiality of the photographic picture (in contrast to a traditional privileging of image content), this essay proposes a theoretical investigation into the topic by applying Bill Brown's ‘thing theory’ to the ‘thingness’ of photography. A ‘photo-as-thing-theory’ is developed here, which introduces the photographic picture as prime example of Brown's thing theory, oscillating as it does between incommensurable thingness and docile objecthood. This ‘photo-as-thing-theory’ is then applied to the more recent development of digital imaging technologies, which are often quoted for their immateriality and lack of thingness in more than one respect: concerning their material volatility, and, more crucially so, regarding photography's mythical relation with the Real.

Subject (DDC)

800 Literature, Rhetoric, Literary Science

Keywords

materiality studies,thing theory,Bill Brown,analog photography,digital photography

Cite This

ISO 690

BREITBACH, Julia, 2011. The Photo-as-Thing : Photography and Thing Theory. In: European Journal of English Studies. 15(1), pp. 31-43. ISSN 1382-5577. Available under: doi: 10.1080/13825577.2011.553895

BibTex

@article{Breitbach2011Photo-20036,
  year={2011},
  doi={10.1080/13825577.2011.553895},
  title={The Photo-as-Thing : Photography and Thing Theory},
  number={1},
  volume={15},
  issn={1382-5577},
  journal={European Journal of English Studies},
  pages={31--43},
  author={Breitbach, Julia}
}

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Bibliography of Konstanz

Yes