Photography has become so fundamental to the way we see that 'photography' and 'seeing' are becoming more and more synonymous. The ubiquity of photography is, perhaps ironically, a challenge to curators, practitioners, and critics.
Trevor PaglenRead
The Internet was supposed to be the greatest tool of global communications and means of sharing knowledge in human history. And it is. But it has also become the most effective instrument of mass surveillance and potentially one of the greatest instruments of totalitarianism in the history of the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The Internet has transformed global communication and knowledge sharing while also enabling mass surveillance and totalitarian control.
This quote highlights the dual nature of the Internet as a powerful tool for enhancing communication and disseminating knowledge worldwide, which is a significant achievement in human history. However, it also points out the darker implications of technology, where the same medium can facilitate mass surveillance by authorities, leading to potential threats against freedom and democracy.
Themes
InternetCommunicationSurveillanceKnowledgeTotalitarianism
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about technology's impact on society, this quote could emphasize the need for digital rights.
More from Trevor Paglen
All quotes →What would the infrastructure of the Internet look like if mass surveillance wasn't its business model?
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People like to say that my work is about making the invisible visible, but that's a misunderstanding. It's about showing what invisibility looks like.
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Perhaps 'photography' has become so all-pervasive that it no longer makes sense to think about it as a discreet practice or field of inquiry. In other words, perhaps 'photography,' as a meaningful cultural trope, is over.
Trevor PaglenRead
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