Decorporealizing Vision and Camera Obscura in Crary's Theory of Visual Perception
Overview
This coursework assignment examines Jonathan Crary's concept of 'decorporealizing vision' and his analysis of Jan Vermeer's use of the camera obscura. The paper argues that Crary positions the camera obscura not merely as a tool but as a subject that reflects how the mind constructs visual understanding from photographic images, establishing the relationship between perception, representation, and modernity.
What this coursework covers
- Question One: Definition and explanation of 'decorporealizing vision' as the mind's process of interpreting and constructing visual information from photographs
- Question Two: Analysis of Crary's argument regarding Vermeer's paintings and the camera obscura as a subject depicting orderly projection of the world
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Fifth Assignment
Question One
‘Decorporealizing vision’ is a term that may be used the way information is taken and broken down into different forms by a person. When Crary uses this phrase, he tries to talk about the images that are taken by photographers. Crary believes that the information that has been captured is stored in mind, and an individual can get to see it visually. However, the information that is seen in photographs must be informed by what one sees through their eyes. That is the reason as to why Crary talks of decorporealizing vision. Crary believes that the mind has first to manufacture what the eyes get to see in a photograph that has been taken for it to interpret the image (Crary 32). However, since the image may not be so clear, the information that is captured may be considered as blurry in vision. The mind may not construct the right information about a given photograph.
Question Two
Crary suggests Jan Vermeer uses the camera obscura as a subject, not only a tool. Crary believes that the paintings by Vermeer should use the camera obscura in a way that depicts the world through an image. Further, Crary argues that the images should be used as a reflection of the camera obscura. The aspects of the camera obscura should be used as a reflection of what the mentioned parts of the paintings stand for.