303. Why is photography more of “a universal language” than other candidates for that title, like music or Esperanto or video?

Because photography is the only medium that is an exception to all four bullet points in #302.

Photography has a capability that no other electronically recorded imaging medium has:

The ability to be equally effective in both “electronic” and “print” formats.

• Photography does not have “place” limitations

Not only can photographs be instantly transmitted around the world; they also can be easily converted — without losing their effectiveness — to a format that can be viewed by anyone in any corner of the world, without electricity, batteries, or any kind of “device” needed.

• Photography does not have “time” limitations

If someone wanted to put depictions of “the world in 2024” into a sealed capsule to be opened in 200 years — and have those depictions be immediately viewable by whomever opens the capsule — printed photographs are the clear choice over any electronic-only format.

No other form of expression can do all of the things that photography can do.