Skip to content

... the thing that's happening today vis-á-vis computer…

“... the thing that's happening today vis-á-vis computer imaging, vis-á-vis alteration, is that it no longer needs to be based on the real at all. I don't want to get into jargon - let's just say that photography to me no longer pertains to the rhetoric of realism; it pertains more perhaps to the…” quote by Barbara Kruger
Download Open image
“... the thing that's happening today vis-á-vis computer imaging, vis-á-vis alteration, is that it no longer needs to be based on the real at all. I don't want to get into jargon - let's just say that photography to me no longer pertains to the rhetoric of realism; it pertains more perhaps to the rhetoric of the unreal rather than the real or of course the hyperreal.”

Barbara Kruger

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She argues that modern photography has shifted from depicting reality to exploring the unreal, hyperreal, and conceptual realms.

In simple terms: Photography now focuses on the unreal and conceptual.

Key Takeaway

Explore beyond literal representation.

Themes

art media reality hyperreal conceptual

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • art exhibitions
  • media criticism
  • creative projects

Key Concepts

visual culture post‑modernism digital manipulation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “unreal” mean to you in images?
  • How does hyperreal affect perception?
A Different Perspective

The shift may alienate audiences seeking authenticity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Barbara Kruger

Explore all 91 Barbara Kruger quotes

More Alterations quotes

Browse all 94 Alterations quotes