In Plato's Cave

The first major point in “In Plato’s Cave” by Susan Sontag is “To collect pictures is to collect the world.” This relates to Shelby Lee Adams’s goal to show the way of life of his hometown. He tells the people who he photographs that he is taking their pictures and won’t publish them without their consent. He is trying to depict the Appalachian way of life. His collection of pictures shows a way of life that most people have no idea exist in modern America.

The Second main point is “Photographs furnish evidence. Something we hear about, but doubt, seems proven when we are shown a photograph of it.” This reminds me of Shelby’s pictures. In modern times and all the technology we have at our finger tips it can be hard to believe that some of the pictures he takes can be real. The people he photographs almost seem like they living in a different time. The clothes they wear, the houses they live in, and their environment all seems so foreign to people who have never experience the Appalachian way of life before.

The final point I think relates to Shelby’s work is “Photographs may be more memorable than moving images.” After looking through his work you can really get a feel for these pictures. It’s not a movie were people talk and actions are explained. It is a single frame that doesn't change. Some of these pictures you can’t forget and you can’t look at for very long. That single image can be branded into your mind.