Stephs Final Theory Paper Idea

Steph Krim

Theory Paper Proposal

November 7th 2012

Idea: Street photography in the age of google street view.

Thesis: In a world where “the street” no longer exists exclusively in meatspace, street photography takes on new media and expands into the digital world (cyber space).

We no longer rely exclusively on the real word to interface and socialize. So much of our communication is mediated though technology. We lead increasingly fractured lives split between the meat and the cyber and our art mirrors that separation. Terms like new media and digital imaging attempt to bring clarity to the muddy line where digital and analog production meet.

Google street view has created an opportunity to expand street photography and allow it to evolve into the 21 century. With the world at our fingertips we have a new found freedom to explore the world we live in from the comfort of our homes.

If we define street photography as a type of photography that features candid subjects in public places then google street view is like one giant street photograph or a massive collection of them.

Then it becomes about the search. The collection. The edit. Its about looking and finding.

Google street view immediately places the viewer in an omnipresent position, to be anywhere at a moments notice.

Googles mission is “ to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” but what google street view is also doing in pursuing the fleeting moment.

Googles 9 lenses are creating as close to a neutral image ad possible. The truth though is true neutrality is impossible. The google camera has a strange effect on people, instead of being a panopticon like invasion of privacy people instead fall over the opportunity to perform for this camera. Though the camera itself is unspoiled by human agendas, the once candid and unaware subject becomes an actor on the sidewalks of the world.

People to think about

Classic street photographers:

Winograd, Friedlander, Frank

New street photographers:

Jon Rafman and the 9 eyes of google street view.

Doug Rickard and A new American picture

Mishka Henner and no mans land

The tool of google street view changes the capture. Instead of the camera being in the hand of the

Things to think about

Decisive moment

Performative action

There is action behind generating the image

Virtual world/ frozen in time