--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who controls the images? Ultimately, we…" description: "\"Who controls the images? Ultimately, we don't control the images. This is the minimum we're allowed to ask for: we don't get to control most of the med..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/hari-kondabolu-12177_control_who-controls-the-images-ultimately-we-do_2568831.png" --- # Who controls the images? Ultimately, we don't control the… ![“Who controls the images? Ultimately, we don't control the images. This is the minimum we're allowed to ask for: we don't get to control most of the media. We fight to have some say in the ways we're represented. At the bare minimum, don't insult us in person. That's all we ask! Let us at least be…” quote by Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/hari-kondabolu-12177_control_who-controls-the-images-ultimately-we-do_2568831.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/hari-kondabolu-12177_control_who-controls-the-images-ultimately-we-do_2568831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/hari-kondabolu-12177_control_who-controls-the-images-ultimately-we-do_2568831.png) > “Who controls the images? Ultimately, we don't control the images. This is the minimum we're allowed to ask for: we don't get to control most of the media. We fight to have some say in the ways we're represented. At the bare minimum, don't insult us in person. That's all we ask! Let us at least be able to function freely in the world.” [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Media representation is largely controlled by powerful entities; marginalized groups seek agency and respectful treatment. **In simple terms:** We lack control over most media; we demand basic respect. Key Takeaway Advocate for equitable representation. Themes media representation power identity justice Mood critical empathetic Type social political When to use this quote - activism - content creation - education - policy advocacy Key Concepts control visibility narrative agency respect Questions to Reflect On - Who decides which images dominate? - How can marginalized voices gain influence? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched media structures is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bare Minimum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bare-minimum/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Most human behavior is controlled by images. Image is a factor in how people look at themselves and what they use to reflect themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/most-human-behavior-is-controlled-by-images-image-is-a-factor-in-how/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [Smash the control images. Smash the control machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/smash-the-control-images-smash-the-control-machine/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“You are only allowed to ask questions if I give you questions to ask.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-cicero/you-are-only-allowed-to-ask-questions-if-i-give-you-questions-to-ask/) [Noah Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-cicero/) > [“He turns back to the fountain so his eyes aren't on me anymore, but I think he's still watching. "I'd ask you, you know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/he-turns-back-to-the-fountain-so-his-eyes-aren-t-on-me-anymore-but-i/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [You aren't allowed to ask at auditions, legally, a person's race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/you-aren-t-allowed-to-ask-at-auditions-legally-a-person-s-race/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [Am I allowed to ask my book / whether it's true I wrote it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/am-i-allowed-to-ask-my-book-whether-it-s-true-i-wrote-it/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [So for me, you can't control the media, you have to work with media to get your message out there and you just hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-goodes/so-for-me-you-can-t-control-the-media-you-have-to-work-with-media-to/) [Adam Goodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-goodes/) > [I want to have complete control over every media so that when I make my record I put on it what I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tosh/i-want-to-have-complete-control-over-every-media-so-that-when-i-make/) [Peter Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tosh/) > [“If it’s true that nothing is more potent than an idea, then those who control the media can direct minds en masse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-morcan/if-it-s-true-that-nothing-is-more-potent-than-an-idea-then-those-who/) [Lance Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-morcan/) > [Nobody will have control of the media in the future, because user-generated content is going to become the major content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-lai/nobody-will-have-control-of-the-media-in-the-future-because-user/) [Jimmy Lai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-lai/) > [USA belongs to a handful of men who also control the media. Look at General Electric. It produces nuclear weapons for the Pentagon and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/usa-belongs-to-a-handful-of-men-who-also-control-the-media-look-at/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [As we move toward the millennium, the year 2000, the most powerful nations are not those that have nuclear bombs, but those that control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/as-we-move-toward-the-millennium-the-year-2000-the-most-powerful/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I play basketball. I can't control the media, the way I play. I can't control all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-play-basketball-i-can-t-control-the-media-the-way-i-play-i-can-t/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [What the hell is wrong with you people? Every famous nigga that gets arrested is not Nelson Mandela! Yes, the government conspires to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-freeman/what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-you-people-every-famous-nigga-that-gets/) [Huey Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-freeman/) > [“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/man-is-the-only-creature-that-consumes-without-producing-he-does-not/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## More by Hari Kondabolu > [Seattle is a place I've lived only a couple of years, but I feel like I've been adopted by this city. It's like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/seattle-is-a-place-i-ve-lived-only-a-couple-of-years-but-i-feel-like/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I have had vegan Thanksgiving of tofurkey and soy gravy. And it's not to say that Thanksgiving will ever justify the genocide of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-have-had-vegan-thanksgiving-of-tofurkey-and-soy-gravy-and-it-s-not/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [The words we use have weight. Whether it's in a conversation with a friend or something said publicly on stage or broadcast. And as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/the-words-we-use-have-weight-whether-it-s-in-a-conversation-with-a/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [Telling me that I’m obsessed with talking about racism in America is like telling me I’m obsessed with swimming when I’m drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/telling-me-that-i-m-obsessed-with-talking-about-racism-in-america-is/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I've been approached after shows from people who said, 'I don't agree with anything you said, but I laughed the whole way through.' That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-ve-been-approached-after-shows-from-people-who-said-i-don-t-agree/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [Just give us 50 years where we're the only ones who are allowed to profit from art, and then you can do whoever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/just-give-us-50-years-where-we-re-the-only-ones-who-are-allowed-to/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [There are some dogs that are gigantic that look like they shouldn't be in existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/there-are-some-dogs-that-are-gigantic-that-look-like-they-shouldn-t/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [Both my parents are immigrants. I've seen different struggles they've had. There's a reason you don't see me using accents. I don't do impressions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/both-my-parents-are-immigrants-i-ve-seen-different-struggles-they-ve/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I would love the opportunity to create my own program. I feel like a TV show with a format of monologue with lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-would-love-the-opportunity-to-create-my-own-program-i-feel-like-a/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I never learned how to tie my shoes, and I was mocked for that. I still don't know how to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-never-learned-how-to-tie-my-shoes-and-i-was-mocked-for-that-i-still/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I'm not a politician, I'm not an ideologue, I'm not an organizer anymore. I'm a human being sharing ideas, and those ideas have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-m-not-a-politician-i-m-not-an-ideologue-i-m-not-an-organizer/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [We've never had a female President in this country, which I find stunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/we-ve-never-had-a-female-president-in-this-country-which-i-find/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [Politics and sports are the same thing in some ways. I like sports; I don't like the sports aspect of politics. The conventions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/politics-and-sports-are-the-same-thing-in-some-ways-i-like-sports-i/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I don't tie my shoes right. I tie them the way you would tie a gift, like a bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-don-t-tie-my-shoes-right-i-tie-them-the-way-you-would-tie-a-gift/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I don't drink before shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-don-t-drink-before-shows/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) [Explore all 56 Hari Kondabolu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) Thomas Miller > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who controls the images? Ultimately, we don't control the images. This is the minimum we're allowed to ask for: we don't get to control most of the media. We fight to have some say in the ways we're represented. At the bare minimum, don't insult us in person. That's all we ask! 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