--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Photographs are but one link in a…" description: "\"Photographs are but one link in a potentially endless chain of reduplication; themselves duplicates (of both their objects and, in a sense, their negat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/craig-owens-62279_chains_photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potent_463118.jpg" --- # Photographs are but one link in a potentially endless… ![“Photographs are but one link in a potentially endless chain of reduplication; themselves duplicates (of both their objects and, in a sense, their negatives), they are also subject to further duplication, either through the procedures of printing or as objects of still other photographs.” quote by Craig Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/craig-owens-62279_chains_photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potent_463118.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/craig-owens-62279_chains_photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potent_463118.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/craig-owens-62279_chains_photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potent_463118.jpg) > “Photographs are but one link in a potentially endless chain of reduplication; themselves duplicates (of both their objects and, in a sense, their negatives), they are also subject to further duplication, either through the procedures of printing or as objects of still other photographs.” [Craig Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-owens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photographs replicate themselves and can be endlessly duplicated, creating a chain of copies that affect both the subject and its representation. **In simple terms:** Photos copy themselves and can be duplicated forever. Key Takeaway Recognize how images can be reproduced endlessly. Themes art representation technology Mood reflective critical Type analytical theoretical When to use this quote - museum curation - digital archiving - advertising - academic research Key Concepts reproduction media theory visual culture Questions to Reflect On - How does endless copying change the value of an image? - What responsibilities do creators have when reproducing images? A Different Perspective Duplication can dilute originality and authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Duplication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duplication/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [If GOD created us in orignal & duplicate copy, we wouldnt have cried over people who mean alot to us. yet they tend not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacent-nakato/if-god-created-us-in-orignal-duplicate-copy-we-wouldnt-have-cried/) [Jacent Nakato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacent-nakato/) > [If GOD created us in duplicate & orignal, we would'nt have cried over people who mean alot to us yet they tend not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacent-nakato/if-god-created-us-in-duplicate-orignal-we-would-nt-have-cried-over/) [Jacent Nakato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacent-nakato/) > [I make up random funny weird quotes but they are allways duplicates in some way wtf... thumbs up if it happens to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-fonner/i-make-up-random-funny-weird-quotes-but-they-are-allways-duplicates/) [Drew Fonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-fonner/) > [I woke up one morning, and all of my stuff had been stolen and replaced by exact duplicates".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-woke-up-one-morning-and-all-of-my-stuff-had-been-stolen-and/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“This house is about two dictionaries away from caving in,' she'd say, 'and you're buying duplicates?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-e-smith/this-house-is-about-two-dictionaries-away-from-caving-in-she-d-say/) [Jennifer E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-e-smith/) > [“At least half of the genes in the human genome are duplicates.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-least-half-of-the-genes-in-the-human-genome-are-duplicates/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Love, when freely given, duplicates and multiplies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/love-when-freely-given-duplicates-and-multiplies/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [Last night somebody broke into my apartment and replaced everything with exact duplicates... When I pointed it out to my roommate, he said, "Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/last-night-somebody-broke-into-my-apartment-and-replaced-everything/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [A lot of TV people buy more than one of an item, in case they spot or stain it, but I don't like buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/a-lot-of-tv-people-buy-more-than-one-of-an-item-in-case-they-spot-or/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [Duplicates do not get approved. It's true we don't know what we've got until its gone, but we don't know what we've been missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-joy/duplicates-do-not-get-approved-it-s-true-we-don-t-know-what-we-ve-got/) Nicole\_joy > [“Question for your life: If the man of your dreams existed in two dimensions only, would you try to print duplicates of him?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/question-for-your-life-if-the-man-of-your-dreams-existed-in-two/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The problems of this world are only truly solved in two ways: by extinction or duplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-problems-of-this-world-are-only-truly-solved-in-two-ways-by/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [Duplication never works for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dulquer-salmaan/duplication-never-works-for-anybody/) [Dulquer Salmaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dulquer-salmaan/) > [Or the Department of Education and another ministry were worried about duplication of effort, so what did they do? They set up two committees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-bremner/or-the-department-of-education-and-another-ministry-were-worried/) [Rory Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-bremner/) > [“If I have the same logic in two places, I work with the design to understand how I can have only one copy. Designs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/if-i-have-the-same-logic-in-two-places-i-work-with-the-design-to/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) ## More by Craig Owens > [As an allegorical art, then, photography would represent our desire to fix the transitory, the ephemeral, in a stable and stabilizing image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-owens/as-an-allegorical-art-then-photography-would-represent-our-desire-to/) [Craig Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-owens/) > [“Empty in this dirt and flat on my back both hands gripped tightly and widely around my bare neck the truth of it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-owens/empty-in-this-dirt-and-flat-on-my-back-both-hands-gripped-tightly-and/) [Craig Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-owens/) > [The postmodernist critique of representation undermines the referential status of visual imagery, its claim to represent reality as it really is - either the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-owens/the-postmodernist-critique-of-representation-undermines-the/) [Craig Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-owens/) > [Representation, then, is not - nor can it be - neutral; it is an act - indeed the founding act - of power in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-owens/representation-then-is-not-nor-can-it-be-neutral-it-is-an-act-indeed/) [Craig Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-owens/) [Explore all 5 Craig Owens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-owens/) ## More Chains quotes > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Chains of conformity click in tiresomely monotonous unison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/the-chains-of-conformity-click-in-tiresomely-monotonous-unison/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-dark-ages-still-reign-over-all-humanity-and-the-depth-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [We don't have a farm-to-table food safety system. I keep saying this. It came as a big surprise to the FDA that tomatoes were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-nestle/we-don-t-have-a-farm-to-table-food-safety-system-i-keep-saying-this/) [Marion Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-nestle/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [How can I set free anyone who doesn't have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/how-can-i-set-free-anyone-who-doesn-t-have-the-guts-to-stand-up-alone/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I'm bigger than you! I'm higher on the food chain - get in my belly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/i-m-bigger-than-you-i-m-higher-on-the-food-chain-get-in-my-belly/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The chains will fall off freely, no more worries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dl-watson/the-chains-will-fall-off-freely-no-more-worries/) DL WATSON > [I am ever mindful of the legacy of my grandfather, the founder of this Kingdom, who had said to me that he perceived his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-hussein-i/i-am-ever-mindful-of-the-legacy-of-my-grandfather-the-founder-of-this/) [King Hussein I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-hussein-i/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [To one who is accustomed to thinking a lot, every new thought that he hears or reads about immediately appears as a link in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-one-who-is-accustomed-to-thinking-a-lot-every-new-thought-that-he/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [To sigh, yet feel no pain; To weep, yet scarce know why; To sport an hour with Beauty's chain, Then throw it idly by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/to-sigh-yet-feel-no-pain-to-weep-yet-scarce-know-why-to-sport-an-hour/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) [Browse all 1,639 Chains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Photographs are but one link in a potentially endless chain of reduplication; themselves duplicates (of both their objects and, in a sense, their negatives), they are also subject to further duplication, either through the procedures of printing or as objects of still other photographs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Craig Owens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-owens/photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potentially-endless-chain-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chains" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-owens/photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potentially-endless-chain-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/craig-owens-62279_chains_photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potent_463118.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/craig-owens-62279_chains_photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potent_463118.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/craig-owens-62279_chains_photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potent_463118.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Photographs are but one link in a potentially endless chain of reduplication; themselves duplicates (of both…” — Craig Owens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Craig Owens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-owens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Photographs are but one link in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-owens/photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potentially-endless-chain-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-owens/photographs-are-but-one-link-in-a-potentially-endless-chain-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```