Western Photography's Perception

Paper Summary:

Photography is an art form that is constituted by culture and society. At the same time photography is also an important element in shaping cultural realities. It is this complex interrelationship between the photographic image and cultural motivation that forms the basic subject of this essay. The relationship between photography and culture is outlined with reference mainly to American nation building and imagery around the turn of the century. Furthermore, the essay discusses the ways in which western forms of nation building interacted with the problem and perception of the "other" and the way images of "the other" are mediated though photographic images of the period. The paper includes photographs.

Paper Outline:
Introduction
Understanding Anthropological Photography
The Cultural Role of Early Photography in America and Nation Building
Francis Johnston
Conclusion
Bibliography

From the Paper:

"The gaze implies a separation and a sense of domination and power that relates to various aspects, including alienation and
"otherness" This also refers to the "patriarchal" gaze: and the gaze from the standpoint of colonial culture. "The majority of anthropological photographs consists of non-Westerners looking away from the photographer, who were mostly white, upper class males, or posed to be in action as to appear candid and natural. " (Tanjuakio J. 2003) This view leads to various other aspects of post-colonial and postmodern theory; such as the assertion that photography is means of "capturing" the non-westerner in terms of control and power."

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