ABSTRACT
The Camera Obscura, a Paradigm
Yvonne Lammerich
1995
Since Medieval times, the camera obscura has made
important contributions to the knowledge base of astronomy, physics, physiology,
philosophy, perception and art. As a symbolic space, the camera obscura mediated new links
within humanity's mental reconstructions of the world. This promoted a greater
understanding of our internal and external realities. This thesis delineates the
parameters of the camera obscura's field of influence which also extended to the North
American continent. Joseph Légaré, the nineteenth-century Québec artist, personifies
this extension. As the founder of Canadian Landscape Painting, his use of the camera
obscura is important when we consider the belief structures created by this paradigm. In
this thesis these are addressed through philosophy, theology-cosmology and art theory.
Return to the Main Listing
of Theses or
use your browser's BACK button to return to the previous page
