--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [X-ray's] accidental discovery in the…" description: "\"[X-ray's] accidental discovery in the late 1800s fits seamlessly into modernity's fascination with, and belief in, the power of technological transpare..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/walead-beshty-45594_belief_x-ray-s-accidental-discovery-in-the-late_1448388.jpg" --- # \[X-ray's\] accidental discovery in the late 1800s fits… ![“[X-ray's] accidental discovery in the late 1800s fits seamlessly into modernity's fascination with, and belief in, the power of technological transparency: the desire to domesticate time (cinema), to preserve and capture the surface of the fleeting (photography), to see inside (x-ray).” quote by Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/walead-beshty-45594_belief_x-ray-s-accidental-discovery-in-the-late_1448388.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/walead-beshty-45594_belief_x-ray-s-accidental-discovery-in-the-late_1448388.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/walead-beshty-45594_belief_x-ray-s-accidental-discovery-in-the-late_1448388.jpg) > “\[X-ray's\] accidental discovery in the late 1800s fits seamlessly into modernity's fascination with, and belief in, the power of technological transparency: the desire to domesticate time (cinema), to preserve and capture the surface of the fleeting (photography), to see inside (x-ray).” [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technological tools that reveal hidden realities, like X‑rays, echo humanity’s drive to make the invisible visible and control time. **In simple terms:** Tech reveals hidden layers and satisfies our desire to see inside. Key Takeaway Use technology to uncover hidden truths. Themes observation technology transparency Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - photography - medical imaging - cinematic time‑lapse - digital archiving Key Concepts visual culture time perception scientific discovery Questions to Reflect On - What are the limits of making everything visible? - How does transparency affect privacy? A Different Perspective May overemphasize control, ignoring ethical concerns of surveillance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidental Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidental-discovery-5202291/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Capture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capture/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Fascination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascination/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Fleeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fleeting/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Modernity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modernity/) [Modernity Fascination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modernity-fascination-5202290/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Preserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserves/) [Rays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rays/) [Seamlessly Modernity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seamlessly-modernity-5202292/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [Technological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technological/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Transparency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transparency/) ## Related quotes > [A 'modern' man has nothing to add to modernism, if only because he has nothing to oppose it with. The well-adapted drop off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/a-modern-man-has-nothing-to-add-to-modernism-if-only-because-he-has/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Modernity consists in a revolt against the prevailing style, an unyielding rage against the official order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/modernity-consists-in-a-revolt-against-the-prevailing-style-an/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [In late modernity we grow more and more accustomed to politicians and public figures who are indebted to their appetites for their "values," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/in-late-modernity-we-grow-more-and-more-accustomed-to-politicians-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [What modernity requires is not that you cease living according to your faith, but that you accept that others may differ and that therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/what-modernity-requires-is-not-that-you-cease-living-according-to/) [Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/) > [“To be absolutely modern is to be the ally of one's grave diggers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/to-be-absolutely-modern-is-to-be-the-ally-of-one-s-grave-diggers/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [To be modern is to find ourselves in an environment that promises us adventure, power, joy, growth, transformation of ourselves and the world -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-berman/to-be-modern-is-to-find-ourselves-in-an-environment-that-promises-us/) [Marshall Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-berman/) > [“An attempt to wrest from God the prerogatives of absolute freedom and infinity leads to the inversion of Pentecost and what is in effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-e-gunton/an-attempt-to-wrest-from-god-the-prerogatives-of-absolute-freedom-and/) [Colin E. Gunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-e-gunton/) > [Religion and modernity are not necessarily mutually exclusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/religion-and-modernity-are-not-necessarily-mutually-exclusive/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [“Our modern era embodies both the Tower of Babel and Pentecost simultaneously. Like Babel, globalization and technological advancement have created linguistic and cultural fragmentation……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paule-patterson/our-modern-era-embodies-both-the-tower-of-babel-and-pentecost/) [Paule Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paule-patterson/) > [For members of a traditional society where many traditions have been discredited, an interest in modernity can result in a restless sophistication. Mehmet Ertegun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-s-trow/for-members-of-a-traditional-society-where-many-traditions-have-been/) [George W. S. 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The term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-bourriaud/altermodern-is-an-in-progress-redefinition-of-modernity-in-the-era-of/) [Nicolas Bourriaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-bourriaud/) > [One of those blocks (that prevent the 'Middle East from entering the mainstream of modernity') is the orthodox tenet that the Koran and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-beichman/one-of-those-blocks-that-prevent-the-middle-east-from-entering-the/) [Arnold Beichman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-beichman/) > [“Indeed, the idea that doubt can be heroic, if it is locked into a structure as grand as that of the paintings of Cezanne's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hughes/indeed-the-idea-that-doubt-can-be-heroic-if-it-is-locked-into-a/) [Robert Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hughes/) ## More by Walead Beshty > [I certainly like it if the work is beautiful, but that's a surplus effect. I can only think about that after I consider how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walead-beshty/i-certainly-like-it-if-the-work-is-beautiful-but-that-s-a-surplus/) [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) > [I was interested in making work that physically changed as it circulated through the art world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walead-beshty/i-was-interested-in-making-work-that-physically-changed-as-it/) [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) > [I try to consider each body of work on its own terms, discretely, so terms like 'sculpture' or 'photography', in their broad sense, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walead-beshty/i-try-to-consider-each-body-of-work-on-its-own-terms-discretely-so/) [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) > [It's extremely difficult to say what one actually means by 'sculpture' other than, in a provisional sense, it's something that goes on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walead-beshty/it-s-extremely-difficult-to-say-what-one-actually-means-by-sculpture/) [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) > [There's a generative material relationship between the material and the image that comes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walead-beshty/there-s-a-generative-material-relationship-between-the-material-and/) [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) > [There is no photograph more inherently photographic than another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walead-beshty/there-is-no-photograph-more-inherently-photographic-than-another/) [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) > [I'm not particularly invested in, nor do I really care about, photography in a general sense. It's a medium that's relatively ubiquitous, readily accessible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walead-beshty/i-m-not-particularly-invested-in-nor-do-i-really-care-about/) [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) > [My works look to how images are produced, but specially based upon how the material reacts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walead-beshty/my-works-look-to-how-images-are-produced-but-specially-based-upon-how/) [Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) [Explore all 9 Walead Beshty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walead-beshty/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. 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