Instantaneous Representation and the Pig Itself

Instantaneous representation offers the promise of showing reality itself, but as all representation removes context, it still relies on what are traditionally considered to be elements of writing, rather than existing in opposition to writing. Narrative is essential in any form of representation, as the proliferation of talk radio, ‘reality television’, docu-dramas, etc. shows. Virtual reality can also be seen as a type, or a continuation, of the writing process. Furthermore, editing, whether in television or photography, makes the delivery of ‘reality’ an idiosyncratic process rather than an impartial reporting, even in the case of instantaneous representation (i.e. live television).