ABSTRACT
According to Elizabeth Wells, Studying critical theory helps readers to understand how meanings are generated and circulated visually. Critical theory prepares them to recognize meaningful ideas when they appear in historical and contemporary photographs. This chapter offers practical tips for unpacking and extracting the information from the writings of critical theory. This is a world of uncommon perceptions and exceptional ideas about every aspect of photography. Critical theory is important, because by exploring this world the readers can expand their intellectual boundaries and stimulate their mind. Critical theory consists of writings from artists, philosophers, academics, and critics, like Susan Sontag, John Szarkowski, John Tagg, Roland Barthes, Graham Clarke, and John Berger. The writings of these theorists can introduce the readers to the intellectual possibilities that exist within their study of photography. Photographers who enjoy intellectual and philosophical approaches to photography can find critical theory exciting.
