User:Mathijs van Oosterhoudt/thesisoutline

Is it possible to subvert the design choices made by manufacturers of photo cameras?

Abstract

Photographs influence us, but the way the photograph is created is in turn influenced by the technology that does so; Cameras influence the possibilities of the result, and their result (Photographs) have in turn influenced us. Changes, additions and new inventions have changed the camera over time, thereby it's result, and therefor how it influences us. Those changes are made by people who have control over the development and production of cameras, influenced by various things and desires that might contribute to why such changes were made, whether this is in the interest of consumers or not. This means that, to some degree, changes in our perception are dependent on those that have this control, which we might not be pleased with. If changes in the technology alters our perception, does it logically follow that by removing such changes, or reverting them, we also get rid of it's influence, and is this a possible way of countering this? However, reverting such changes is dependent on the technology that created them, understanding that technology and finding alternatives, which becomes increasingly difficult as technology advances, becomes more complicated and near-impossible to reverse engineer. Is it possible to subvert the design choices made by manufacturers of photo cameras?

Bibliography

Walter Benjamin - Little History of Photography

Langdon Winner - Do Artifacts Have Politics?

Jonathan Crary - Techniques of the observer

Friedrich Kittler - Gramaphone, Film, Typewriter

Matthew Fuller, Andrew Goffey - Towards an Evil Media Studies

Why is it important to subvert such choices?

In the first chapter I want to take a look at the power the manufacturer of the camera has on the consumption and production of still images, and bring forward why it is important to have the possibility of subverting the choices laid upon us through technical specifications, limitations and so forth.

Who controls these choices, and how do they influence us?

In the second chapter I want to take a look at the history of the camera, it's makers, shapers and inventors and how these technologies have been applied by manufacturers to cameras that are brought to the public. How have these choices evolved over time? In what ways do they influence us?

How can technologies be subverted?

In the third chapter, I want to take a look at how the consumer influences both the shaping of the camera as it's adaptation, but also the way they can adapt them to their own needs through various ways of tinkering or creation from scratch. What are the possibilities, what are the obstacles? How has this worked in the past, and are the same methods still apply-able to modern day situations?