What Do Pictures Want?

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Why do we have such powerful responses to the images we encounter daily? Why do we treat pictures as if they possess the ability to influence, persuade, or even mislead us? W. J. T. Mitchell argues that we must view images not merely as passive objects conveying meaning but as animated entities with their own desires and demands. This exploration delves into Mitchell's groundbreaking ideas on picture theory and the lives of images. He analyzes a diverse range of subjects, including Byzantine icons, cyberpunk films, racial stereotypes, public monuments, and more. By applying his sharp and insightful analyses, Mitchell opens new perspectives in iconology and visual culture. He discusses the significance of Dolly the Sheep, a clone that embodies the ancient dream of creating a living image, and reflects on the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11, which represents a new form of iconoclasm. This work provides a rich examination of the relationship between the visible and the readable, establishing itself as a crucial resource for art historians, literary critics, anthropologists, and philosophers.