Redirecting the Message: A Definition
Redirecting the Message is an art project that revolves around misinformation and communication bias. I take images, words, and objects and re-purpose them into other forms so that a new message is created from the old one. This is a part of my Reception Theory project, which relates to communication and interpretation. Therefore, the purpose is to show how one message can easily be changed to mean something different. In other words, information is easily re-purposed to fit the communicator’s agenda. As a result, the audience must decide what is real or not.
What to Look For
For instance, if an oil painting elicits a specific feeling or emotion, then it stands to reason that a photo will also elicit a specific feeling or emotion. However, certain types of art elicit specific behaviors when compared to other types of art. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the oil painting and the photo elicit different responses, even if the subject matter is the same. There are many examples of photos portraying events unobjectively, or even worse, untruthfully. For example, John Kerry never sat beside Jane Fonda at a peace rally.
Methodology
The attempt here is to create art using a specific technique and then transform that art into another technique. For example, if an oil painting is a work in of itself, then a photo of the same painting is also a work in of itself. To take it a step further, I then paint over the photo with new materials and take a photo of that. I then may subsequently further manipulate the new photo digitally. As a result, I have created a new photo of the first oil painting with new materials added. Therefore, the goal is to show how the media’s message can be easily spun to mean something very different from the original, intended message.
Concluding Remarks
Many of these images, not all, are photos of the exact same original item. In some of these instances, it is obvious that they are the same thing (Blur #2 and Blur #3, for example), but Blur #3 is also the same as Manipulation #5 Self-Portrait. It is the same original event but with a different result depending on perspective. However, In many of the images, the change is subtle and not easily seen. Consequently, these are the images that are the most dangerous. In contrast, many images have blunt changes. In other words, it is obvious which images have been altered and how. But in the same vein, these blunt images may also have subtle distortions that change the scene completely.
![An abstract photo of the textile designs of the Bates Mill in Lewiston, ME.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Greg-Mason-Burns-Bates-Mill-Textile-Designs-Photography-on-Archival-Paper-21-x-17-framed-2023-768x1024.jpg)
![An abstract photo of a factory in New York City](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Factory-Scars-768x1024.jpg)
![Target Loops](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Target-Loops-768x1024.jpg)
![Abstract photo of the Jüdische Gemeinde in Bochum, Germany, colored with blue, red, and yellow](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Judische-Gemeinde-Bochum-scaled.jpg)
![Dark Day](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-Dark-Day-1024x768.jpg)
![Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus Portao colored with red, blue, and yellow](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Igreja-do-Senhor-Bom-Jesus-Portao-scaled.jpg)
2448 x 3264 px
![First Parish of the Abstract Artist abstract photo using blue, green, grey, and yellow](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/First-Parish-of-the-Abstract-Artist-25-x-33-cm-scaled.jpg)
3013 x 4017 px
![An abstract photo of a smokestack](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Smoke-stack-768x1024.jpg)
![A photo representing the independence movements of Scotland and the Orkney and Shetland Islands.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Orkney-Pull-2-768x1024.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2023)
3000 x 4000 px
![Essen Coal #4 - Solar is an abstract photo of the Welterbe Zollverein mine in Essen, Germany.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Essen-Coal-4-Solar-scaled.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
2448 x 3264 px
![A photo of what looks like climbing gear but is actually fencing at Little Island, NYC](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Camelot-768x1024.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper
3000 x 4000 px
![Two Sides of Light](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Two-Sides-of-Light-1024x768.jpg)
![Abstract Photo of a Window Fence in Brighton, MA](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-Window-Fence-1024x768.jpg)
![Essen Coal #3 is an abstract photo of the Welterbe Zollverein mine in Essen, Germany.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Essen-Coal-3-scaled.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
2448 x 3264 px
![Essen Coal #1 is an abstract photo of the Welterbe Zollverein mine in Essen, Germany.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Essen-Coal-1-45-x-60-cm-scaled.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
2448 x 3264 px
![Earth's Descent is an abstract photo taken from an airplane depicting the climate crisis using red, orange, and blue coloring.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Earths-Descent-57-x76-cm-scaled.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
3120 x 4160 px
![A manipulated image of a tree near Chillon Castle in Veytaux Switzerland.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Manipulation-15-January-3-2023-Veytaux-Switzerland-768x1024.jpg)
![Bushy Park Church is an abstract photo taken in Galway, Ireland using oil pastel and acrylic paint over photo paper with blue, green, yellow, and red coloring.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Bushy-Park-Church-scaled.jpg)
Photography on Archival paper (2021)
2802 x 1994 px
![Manipulation #12 - Dublin Streets is an abstract photo of Dublin, Ireland using red, yellow, and blue coloring.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Manipulation-12-Dublin-Streets-scaled.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
2448 x 3264 px
![Abstract Photo of Smokestack in Brighton, MA](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Smoke-stack-2-768x1024.jpg)
![Manipulation #11 - House on Newcastle is an abstract photo of Galway, Ireland using oil pastel and acylic paint with red, green, and blue coloring.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Manipulation-11-House-on-Newcastle-45-x-60-cm-scaled.jpg)
![Bowdoin Art Museum](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bowdoin-Art-Museum-1024x768.jpg)
![Bowdoin College Chapel is an abstract photography image.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Bowdoin-College-Chapel-60-x-76-cm-scaled.jpg)
![Manipulation #7 is an abstract photo using blue, red, and yellow coloring with texture underneath.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Prancheta-1-50-9-e1645025151827.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
2971 x 3866 px
![Cold Reflection is an abstract photo of frozen pine needles with red and blue coloring.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Prancheta-1-50-8-e1645025273426.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
3968 x 2976 px
![Abstract Photo of Converted Church in Brookline, MA](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Old-Brookline-Church-1024x768.jpg)
![Manipulation #2 is an abstract photo using texture and blue, white, and orange coloring.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Prancheta-1-50-7-e1645025292743.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2612 x 2905 px
![Manipulation #3 is an abstract photo of a paint swab using blue and orange coloring.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Prancheta-1-50-6-e1645025311549.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2976 x 3968 px
![Blur #1 is an abstract photo of a paint swab using blue, orange, and white.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/blur-1_orig.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2228 x 2428 px
![Blur #2 is an abstract photo of a paint swab no more than 1/4](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/blur-2_orig.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2866 x 3447 px
![A Fallacy](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/A-Fallacy-by-Greg-Mason-Burns-photography-2016-small.jpg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2016)
2785 x 2158 px
![Blur #3 is an abstract photo of a tiny paint swab no more than 1/4](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/blur-3_orig.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2866 x 3447 px
![Blur #4 is an abstract photograph of two paint swabs no more than 1/4](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/blur-4_orig.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2976 x 3968 px
![Manipulation #1 is an abstract photo of a paint swab with texture layered underneath.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/manipulation-1_orig.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2612 x 2905 px
![Manipulation #6 - The Lecht is an abstract photo of the Lecht ski lift in Scotland, with oil pastel and acrylic paint added.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/manipulation-6-ski-lift-53-x-78-cm_orig.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
2976 x 3968 px
![Statement #2 - Obscura Camera Religio is an abstract photo of an abbey in Scotland, with yellow, blue, and black acrylic paint and oil pastel.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/statement-2-obscura-religio_orig.jpeg)
2976 x 3968 px
![Manipulation #5 Self Portrait is an abstract photo of the artist.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/manipulation-5-self-portrait_orig.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2976 x 3968 px
![Statement #3 - Hope and Agony is an abstract photo of a woman held back with the light of hope in her eyes.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/statement-3-hope-and-agony-43-x-66-cm_orig.jpeg)
2373 x 3604 px
![Manipulation #9 - The Jails is an abstract photo of Edinburgh Castle with blue and yellow highlights.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/manipulation-9-the-jails-53-x-78-cm_orig.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2021)
2976 x 3968 px
![Manipulation #4 is an abstract photo highlighting reds, oranges, blues, and yellows.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2.jpeg)
Photography on Archival Paper (2020)
2976 x 3968 px
![Digital Collage #1 is a snippet of a larger collage of items from Glawy, Ireland.](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Digital-Collage-1-45-x-60-cm-768x1024.jpg)
Photography on Archival paper (2021)
2448 x 3264 px
![An abstract photo of a skylight](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Skylight-2-768x1024.jpg)
![An abstract photo of a skylight](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Skylight-1-768x1024.jpg)
![An abstract photo looking out a window](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Blind-Man-Colors-5-768x1024.jpg)
![An abstract photo looking out a window](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Blind-Man-Colors-4-768x1024.jpg)
![An abstract photo looking out a window](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Blind-Man-Colors-3-768x1024.jpg)
![An abstract photo looking out a window](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Blind-Man-Colors-2-1024x768.jpg)
![An abstract photo looking out a window](https://s00540.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Blind-Man-Colors-1-1024x768.jpg)