How much of the world do we see as it truly exists? How much of the world do we see through our own bias, brokenness, history, and culture? Is our subjectvity a problem?
I was helped by N.T. Wright’s thoughts on critical realism.
…I propose a form of critical realism. This is a way of describing the process of “knowing” that acknowledges the reality of the thing known, as something other than the knower (hence “realism”), while fully acknowledging that the only access we have to this reality lies along the spiralling path of appropriate dialogue or conversation between the knower and the thing known (hence “critical”). (The New Testament and the People of God, pp. 35)
I’m nowhere near finishing Wright’s big tome. But I’ve read a couple of his shorter works, including The Challenge of Jesus, thanks to Danny’s recommendation (I’m going miss having you around, Danny!) And I recently finished Wright’s “Romans in a Week”…which took me like 6 weeks while listening in the car.
Are my pictures an accurate representation of the pelican or something more?
Should my pictures be a record of a moment or my creation of an image? (Mia was playing with Emi’s hat. I was playing with a Nikkor 24mm f/2.8…don’t know if I’ll keep it.)
When I take a picture, do I find what is there or does my presence change the subject? (You gotta love Noah’s smile!)
Maybe it’s both.
