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Studium and Punctum
French philosopher Roland Barthes discussed his thoughts about photography in detail in his book, Camera Lucida. His thoughts about the distinction between the studium and punctum of the photograph are particularly well known. Studium indicates the factor that initially draws the viewer to a photograph. It refers to the intention of the photographer; the viewer can determine the studium of a photograph with their logical, intellectual mind. Studium describes elements of an image rather than the sum of the image’s information and meaning. The punctum of a photograph, however, contains a deeper dimension: the elements of punctum penetrate the studium—they have the ability to move the viewer in a deep and emotional way. Barthes ...
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