Exercise 2.4: Is appropriation appropriate.

Is appropriation appropriate?

What is the purpose of Google Street View?  The web site WebTrends list seven uses, the last being, `Check out a location for a painting or drawing.'  

Doug Rickard has taken this to a logical conclusion and rather than reproduce the images in painting and drawing, reproduces the original.  In his exhibition A New American Picture he takes us to places we may not be happy to visit.  Although taken randomly and without framing or timing these images contain similar vistas as were produced by Eugene Atget in Paris and such decisive moments they could have been taken by Cartier Bresson.  The difference is that Rickard, rather that visit the scenes, sat in front of a computer screen and trawled through hours of film and images.  In framing the image and selecting the time to freeze the action he has added his mark.  

In the early days of photography one of the main criticisms was that it only reproduced views that are there for all to see, should they bother to visit.  This technique could be criticised in the same way; only we weren't there, and we didn't witness the decisive moment.  As with all images we can only see what was there at the time and recorded by the artist. 

In viewing these, and other similar images, I noted that any reaction to the presence of the these rather obvious, and some might say intrusive, camera vehicles was directed not at the driver and operator but to the camera.  The thrown stone, the single finger salute and the cheery wave are all aimed at the camera which then anonymised them by pixelating their faces.  I am sure the reaction to a pedestrian photographer in the places featured would have been much more direct and personal.  It may appear voyeuristic but this method is definately safer.

I keep a camera running in my car which permanently records the road ahead.  Perhaps a project for the future.

Thoughts on Assignment Two.

I intend to use a route I use often to cycle between Deal and Sandwich.  The road starts as Golf Road and finishes as Guilford Road.  It is part of the National Cycle Route and runs across the flat flood plain of the River Stour.  I cannot use Google Street View as this road has not been filmed.  I have marked the approximate route in red on the Google Map below.  I intend to photograph only that which can be seen from the road.