"Why do you have to translate and decode things? Just let the image be. It will have a special kind of reality that it won't once it's decoded"

In this quote, Laurie Anderson questions the need for translation and decoding in our society. She suggests that instead of attempting to comprehend and translate everything, we should just let things be as they are. According to Anderson, when we decipher something, we remove it of its original essence and produce a new truth. This new reality might not hold the same significance or impact as the initial image. Anderson believes that by permitting things to exist in their natural state, they possess a special and unique reality that can not be reproduced once it is translated. She encourages us to welcome the secret and charm of things without feeling the requirement to completely understand them.