On Photography

In the essay "On Photography," prominent German media theorist Vilém Flusser (1920–1991) poses the question of whether human freedom is possible in the conditions of an information society, in a world dominated by devices, where our thoughts, feelings, desires, and actions are roboticized. The photographer's intention is inscribed in a strictly limited corridor of the camera's program—a black box simulating thought—thus, the human and the device merge into a single whole. According to Flusser, the philosophy of photography becomes the starting point for any reflection on the modern and impending existence of humanity; it is meant to open up space for the artist's freedom—the freedom to play against the device. In this edition, the essay is supplemented by a postscript from philosopher and cultural expert Vitaly Kurennoy.