"Introduction" to The Digital Eye: Photographic Art in the Digital Age by Sylvia Woolf and “Digital Manipulation and Fair Use”

The first section of this reading exemplifies the historical impact and influence of the photograph as an expressive art form. An interesting concept brought about by photographic manipulation and design included the position of artists as testers or "innovators." This principle signified not only the possibility for evolution within the artistic field as a result of new developments like technology, but also bestowed artists with the ability to generate original work through this manipulation. The creative liberties provided by digital photography are further explored in the reading: since digital images do not have the grain of photographic film, the pixels that do compose these photographs allow for a much broader degree of manipulation, which in turn allows for a much more infinite realm of innovation. This capability thus provides not only the possibility for creative innovation, but also allows each digital image to truly become unique and unparalleled in its creation instead of simply exhibiting traces of that which was photographed.
The reading also discusses the evolution of the photograph from a more luxurious item to that which belongs to and can be created by everyone. This concept leads into the second section, which discusses the fair use regulations pertaining to digital manipulation and various technical processes by which said photographs can be edited. Both readings pertain strongly to our class and especially to our next assignment, since they describe the histories and methods that are involved in digital photography and include the official terms for the techniques we will be implementing.
To what degree should we trust what we see in photographs and when is it useful to question what we see portrayed?

Wangechu Mutu: the Value of Collage and its Forms

Wangechi Mutu. Untitled (Pearl Teeth). 2008. paper collage, spray paint, beads, glitter, and acrylic on vellum. H. 44 in. (111.8 cm); W. 58.5 in. (148.6 cm). 

Source: http://wangechimutu.com/art/on-paper/

In accordance with the guidelines of Assignment 2, Wangechu Mutu's works exhibit an effective, precise, and intentional use of collage and its features to express a specific theme. In the video, the artist discussed the influence that maternal figures have on her pieces, as well as the instances of segregation that she and her friends experienced as children. These experiences transition into her work through the method and the image; for instance, in her piece Untitled (Pearl Teeth), the chaotic composition of the figures meets its balance through the control of their overall forms and outlines. Although the artist works with tangible materials as opposed to digital processes, the application of natural fluidity and imperfection through this hand-made approach reflects the entire theme of her individual pieces. Such intentions and application of the material can be applied to our digital collage assignment. The ability to cut, paste, undo, and color correct, among others, can give us not only the ability to more freely explore the collage's potential but also the capacity to convey a message that makes use of the synthetic, of a contrast between organic and geometric or a deliberate acknowledgement of the control of technological approaches. When examining the emotion of Wangechu Mutu's pieces, do you think that there are certain components that could possibly be strengthened or weakened by a technological approach to the formation of the collage?