Week 5

This week's reading from chapter 8 returns to the notion "photographic truth." I find this concept interesting because most everyone believes in it. Although photographic truth is beginning to erode (unfortunately, rightfully so), there is still I widespread desire to believe what we see. When it comes to my personal use of images, I love that technology has evolved so that an image can be easily manipulate - whether it be to eliminate "red eye," change the contrast, or insert/eliminate objects. Especially being a Communication: New Media major, I have gotten a lot of use of these options provided in programs such as Photoshop. They serve very useful functions, but can also be fun just to play around with. When it comes to more serious matters such as court cases, I begin to see that the advancement of technology is not always a great thing. While I may find amusement in placing my body in a photograph and setting in which I was not actually present, these same techniques could be used to frame an innocent person or acquit a guilty person based on "photographic truth." While we all would love to still believe in it, it just doesn't make sense anymore. For the average person, a Photoshop attempt would most likely be quite obvious, but to a more experience Photoshoper a change in an image would be much more discrete and undetectable. So what effect does this have on our legal system? If photographs no longer equal absolute truth what else is there to prove innocence or guilt? Auditory recording may be used, but can't they also be manipulated by a good editor? The only way to PROVE a case may very well be DNA evidence. What if there is none or even worse if this too can be manipulated in the future? Because DNA evidence is not dependant upon a media technology, it is likely to become manipulable but it could be possible for those in the investigation to be involved in a conspiracy theory and lie or frame someone. DNA evidence really has nothing to do with the "photographic truth," but it is interesting to ponder other so called truths in our society and whether they can really be considered absolute truth. Are there any absolutes?