This source commentary deals with the methodological, interpretive and theoretical issues raised by using documentary photographs as historical sources. The problems and advantages connected with this type of historical source are going to be illustrated taking documentary photographs created for the photographic section of the US American federal government during the interwar period as an example. By focusing on two out of the approximately 80, 000 photos of this collection which were produced by the two most renown photographers working for the project, Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, this source commentary is going to argue that using them profitably as sources in writing cultural history, requires at least as much or even more critical consideration and background information than is required by other sources.
Table of Contents
- MA Cultural History: Source based project: "FSA Photography: Dorothea Lange & Walker Evans"
- Introduction
- Characteristics of Documentary Photographs as Historical Sources
- Apparent Objectivity
- Multiple Levels of Meaning
- Emotional Impact
- Historical Context: The Great Depression and the FSA Photography Project
Objectives and Key Themes
This source commentary analyzes the methodological challenges and opportunities inherent in using documentary photographs as historical sources. It uses photographs from the Farm Security Administration (FSA) project during the Great Depression, focusing on the work of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, to illustrate these points. The commentary explores how various factors influence the interpretation of these images.
- The apparent objectivity of photographs and the inherent biases present.
- The multiple levels of meaning in photographs (denotative and connotative).
- The influence of the photographer's background and the client's instructions on image creation.
- The propagandistic potential of documentary photographs.
- The emotional impact of photographs and its influence on interpretation.
Chapter Summaries
MA Cultural History: Source based project: "FSA Photography: Dorothea Lange & Walker Evans": This introductory section sets the stage for the commentary, outlining its focus on the methodological, interpretive, and theoretical issues surrounding the use of documentary photographs as historical sources. It introduces the FSA photography project and the chosen photographers, Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, highlighting the need for critical analysis when using such photographs in cultural historical research. The section emphasizes the apparent objectivity of photographs as a potential advantage while hinting at the complexities that arise from this assumption.
Characteristics of Documentary Photographs as Historical Sources: This chapter delves into the inherent characteristics of documentary photographs as historical sources, focusing on three key aspects. First, it examines the perceived objectivity of photographs, contrasting them with other source types like written documents and paintings. The commentary challenges this notion of objectivity, using the work of Walker Evans as an example to show how photographic manipulation and the photographer's perspective influence the final image. Second, the chapter explores the dual levels of meaning in photographs—denotative (literal) and connotative (culturally specific)—using Lange's "Migrant Mother" as a case study to illustrate how cultural context shapes interpretation. Finally, the chapter addresses the emotional impact of photographs, questioning how these emotional responses affect understanding and contribute to a potential propagandistic effect. The discussion emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach to interpreting these sources, considering both their historical context and emotional resonance.
Historical Context: The Great Depression and the FSA Photography Project: This section provides the historical backdrop for the FSA photographs, explaining the reasons behind the government's decision to employ photographers to document the social and economic conditions of the American agricultural poor during the Great Depression. It highlights the confusion surrounding unemployment statistics in the early years of the Depression and the government's initial attempts to downplay its impact. The commentary explains how the public's growing distrust of government and media narratives created a fertile ground for the use of photography as a potentially more trustworthy form of communication, further underscoring the complexities of interpreting the FSA photographs as objective representations of reality. The section sets the stage for understanding the photographs within the specific social, political, and economic conditions of the era.
Keywords
Documentary photography, FSA photography, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Great Depression, historical sources, objectivity, visual culture, propaganda, cultural context, interpretation, methodology, connotative meaning, denotative meaning, emotional impact.
FAQ: MA Cultural History: Source based project: "FSA Photography: Dorothea Lange & Walker Evans"
What is the overall focus of this source commentary?
This commentary analyzes the methodological challenges and opportunities of using documentary photographs as historical sources. It uses FSA photographs from the Great Depression, focusing on Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, to illustrate how various factors influence image interpretation.
What are the key themes explored in this commentary?
Key themes include the apparent objectivity (and inherent biases) of photographs, multiple levels of meaning (denotative and connotative), the influence of photographer background and client instructions, the propagandistic potential of documentary photographs, and the emotional impact of photographs on interpretation.
What is the purpose of the "Characteristics of Documentary Photographs as Historical Sources" chapter?
This chapter examines the perceived objectivity of photographs, contrasting them with other sources. It challenges this objectivity, using examples to show how photographic manipulation and perspective influence the final image. It also explores the dual levels of meaning (denotative and connotative) and the emotional impact of photographs, emphasizing the need for nuanced interpretation.
How does the commentary address the "apparent objectivity" of photographs?
The commentary challenges the assumption of objectivity in photographs, demonstrating how the photographer's perspective, manipulation techniques, and the context of image creation introduce biases. It uses examples from Walker Evans' work to illustrate this point.
What is the significance of Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" in this commentary?
Lange's "Migrant Mother" serves as a case study to illustrate the multiple levels of meaning in photographs (denotative and connotative), showing how cultural context shapes interpretation.
What is the role of the "Historical Context: The Great Depression and the FSA Photography Project" chapter?
This chapter provides the historical background of the FSA project, explaining the government's motivations and the social and political climate during the Great Depression. It highlights the complexities of interpreting the photographs as objective representations of reality, considering the government's initial attempts to downplay the Depression's impact and the public's growing distrust of official narratives.
What are the key methodological issues discussed in the commentary?
The commentary addresses the methodological challenges inherent in using documentary photographs as historical sources, emphasizing the need for critical analysis of the context, biases, and potential propagandistic use of the images.
What keywords best describe the content of this source commentary?
Documentary photography, FSA photography, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Great Depression, historical sources, objectivity, visual culture, propaganda, cultural context, interpretation, methodology, connotative meaning, denotative meaning, emotional impact.
What is the overall conclusion of the commentary regarding the use of FSA photographs in historical research?
The commentary concludes that while FSA photographs offer valuable insights into the Great Depression, their interpretation requires a nuanced approach, acknowledging the complexities of their creation and the various factors influencing their meaning and impact.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Stefanie Däne (Autor:in), 2007, Source based project: “FSA Photography: Dorothea Lange &Walker Evans”, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/154189
