“The camera introduces us to unconscious optics as does psychoanalysis to unconscious impulses.”
— Walter Benjamin
Simplified Meaning:
When we take pictures with a camera, we can capture and see things that we might not notice with our own eyes right away. A camera can reveal details, angles, and moments that we don't always consciously see or think about. Similarly, psychoanalysis is a way to explore our deep thoughts and feelings that we aren’t fully aware of. Just as a camera helps us see hidden details in a photo, psychoanalysis helps us understand hidden parts of our mind. For example, imagine you take a picture at a party and later notice a person in the background looking sad. You might not have seen their sadness in the moment, but the photo reveals it. In the same way, psychoanalysis can help you uncover why you feel a certain way, like why you get nervous speaking in public. It helps you understand past experiences or fears that affect you without you realizing it. By looking closely at both pictures and our own minds, we can learn more about the world and ourselves.
