Reading Assignment2

Reading Assignment 2: Barrett Chapter 3, Interpreting Photographs

1)    Thesis: Barrett writes that interpretation from critic make interpretive criticism better. Understanding the point that the artists have for producing their art relates to viewers’ point of view to art.

2)    Barrett uses some artists and their works in this chapter, and for the first is Jeff Wall’s “Dead Troops Talk” (1922).

3)    Barrett defines that interpretation is finding characteristics and meaning in photographs. Metaphors and understanding different artworks makes viewers to think about the work.

4)    Barrett writes that interpretation is important in criticism in photographs because people who critique something they make it relate the other actual photograph and compare it. What the artist want viewers to feel about the work need to have interpretation to completely understand the true meaning of the artist gave.

5)  Interpretive strategies that stood out and interest me was Saul Leiter’s Graffiti Heads (1950) because it is interesting that show some fantasy elements in the usual daily life as he did all the time. The all of work of him provides the interpretation of finding dreamy and special in the space and the moment.

6) The main points are that interpretations stands between plausible and implausible. He argues that all viewers have different opinions about artworks and the interpretation that they can have from the works will be different. The artworks have subjective and opinions and it weakens our ability to debate by sharing the opinions about them.

7) The main point that Barrett points is the intention of the artist does not always and does not have to make viewers interpretations, or sometimes the artists lead viewers intentionally.

8) I leaner that the artists don’t know what is clearly the interpretation that the artists want viewers to have when they shoot. And there are some opinions and critique that would be different by each people, and we don’t know how the artwork will be critiqued. I thought that is one of the interest points for artists to shoot and create own work. And also I leaner it is important to critique and analyze others’ artwork to create own passion as an artist. There’s no right answer to express something.

9) Barrett concludes that it is important to interpret art by debating and sharing opinions and that will makes a good interpretation. He also writes that there’s no right and limited of how viewers make their interpretations.