Idiot Quote by Garry Winogrand
“If you run into a monkey in some idiot context, automatically you've got a very real problem taking place in the photograph.”
About This Quote
Source Photograph caption, 1975
Encountering a monkey in a ridiculous setting signals a serious problem within the image.
In simple terms: A monkey in a silly scene signals a problem.
Key Takeaway
Question absurd elements in visual media.
Themes
photography
absurdity
analysis
context
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- photo journalism
- art critique
- media literacy
Key Concepts
visual metaphor
image critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the monkey represent?
- How does absurdity affect interpretation?
A Different Perspective
Not all oddities are meaningful.
![“We [human beings] are what happens when smart monkeys fuck.” quote by Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8aa/corey-taylor-1968_money_we-human-beings-are-what-happens-when-sm_1560616.jpg)
![“[Photography is ] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that could be happening, to some degree, with photography, too. It doesn't cost as much to do it, either.” quote by Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2eb/garry-winogrand-2342_cost_photography-is-likewise-even-french-impr_2802.jpg)
