Threshold concept #9: Photographs are not neutral; they are susceptible to the abuse of power.
It's easy to say all photographs start with an idea, each photograph can take a different amount of time to develop both physically and conceptually. However, once in existence it has the potential to take on a whole new meaning. These photographs all come with their own origins and narratives whether mundane or telling stories of personal tales. Photographs are always going to have endless possibilities that can rarely be neutral, being pulled (sometimes with questionable power).
Photographs communicate powerful ideas about the world, for instance when reading into Adolf Hitlers photographer. When he was appointed Nazi Party leader in 1921, he hired a personal photographer (Heinrich Hoffmann who he kept for 25 years). Hitler knew the importance of controlling how he was presented in the media of the time, using photography as a form of rehearsal and self-review he was able to construct his public speeches to become as powerful as he could after adapting his gestures and expressions, after they had been photographed, he was able to achieve this. This meant propaganda and media became tightly controlled on a short leash, they became mediums for manipulation and instruction, a Nazi weapon.
Photographs communicate powerful ideas about the world, for instance when reading into Adolf Hitlers photographer. When he was appointed Nazi Party leader in 1921, he hired a personal photographer (Heinrich Hoffmann who he kept for 25 years). Hitler knew the importance of controlling how he was presented in the media of the time, using photography as a form of rehearsal and self-review he was able to construct his public speeches to become as powerful as he could after adapting his gestures and expressions, after they had been photographed, he was able to achieve this. This meant propaganda and media became tightly controlled on a short leash, they became mediums for manipulation and instruction, a Nazi weapon.
Spencer Platt, an American photojournalist, won the Best News picture with his image, "Affluent Lebanese drive down the street to look at a destroyed neighbourhood August 15, 2006 in southern Beirut, Lebanon. As the United Nations-brokered cease fire between Israel and Hezbollah enters its first day, thousands of Lebanese returned to their homes and villages.”. this image was taken a day after the ceasefire in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, dividing opinions and evoking controversy. Many people saw 'Self-centred' youth touring around disaster-stricken areas, some believing it showed "callous tourists viewing devastation". Eventually an interview was done with the subjects who said they were residents of the formerly Christian neighbourhood in the photo but had been forced to flee the bombing; at the start of the ceasefire they drove back to check their homes.
After this image had been subject to publicity after winning an award, it was scrutinised and seen as controversial, a victim of power.
After this image had been subject to publicity after winning an award, it was scrutinised and seen as controversial, a victim of power.
“While most of my images from this war showed dead, crying or displaced Lebanese, this photo shows them as resilient, beautiful and seemingly impervious to the Israeli bombs.”
“What matters is that this image could not be taken anywhere else in the world except Lebanon. There is nowhere that fashion, carnage, war and beauty rub shoulders as they do in Beirut.” He adds, “A red Mini Cooper driving through the rubble with a group of glamorous youth looking perplexed and slightly indifferent…that is a picture….nothing more need be said.”
-Spencer Platt
TC #9's abuse of power may also be linked to TC#7's fashion photography, its seductive use of the male gaze and linking to 'heroin screws you up', briefly talked about here. This led to 'heroin chic' of the 1990's, abusive therefore powerful use of fashion photography with an increasingly raw snapshot style approach to documentary and fashion photography for example 'Kirsten Owen' by Juergen Teller and 'Tara crying' by Corinne Day (see both above).
Photography is such a powerful way to communicate and transmit messages- it can be used for positive propaganda for instance to challenge stereotypes and argue for social justice. Photographs maintained the use of the Make Gaze, likely due to frequency of male makers, however this is beginning to change due to the rise in female photographers using photography to directly challenge this alongside sexism and sexist values, to establish new ways of seeing. Some pioneers of this are the Guerrilla girls. They are an anonymous group of feminist artists fighting sexism and racism within the constraints of the art world. Forming in New York City in 1985, they decided on the mission of 'bringing gender and racial inequality into focus within the greater arts community'. They use mediums such as posters, billboards, books, and public appearances, all the methods a company might use to promote their product. To remain anonymous, the members wear gorilla heads and use pseudonyms referring to deceased female artists. they say "identities are concealed because issues matter more than individual identities... Mainly we wanted the focus to be on the issues, not on our personalities or on our work"
Protest mumbo-jumbo
With political photography in mind, we began by looking into protest signs. Tasked with creating on A2 and one A1 protest board, one had to be an image and the other a message, we began considering the issues and flaws in the world. The brief explained that the aim was something playful and experimental whilst being mundane and everyday.
For my message I wrote, "HOW CAN I CHOOSE JUST 1 THING..." I decided to do this because, whilst thinking of the issue I wanted to highlight, I realised I couldn't decide on one. This is the problem. There are too many issues in the world, each one outweighing another whilst still being controversial. Everyone has different opinions and beliefs, you can't solve one issue without making someone unhappy. Along with this I put an image of a fruit bowl because picking a fruit is simple and easy on the mind, there are greater matters in the world that outweigh this. I also used this image because while one person may choose and apple, another may choose an orange, people don't see the world the same way because of all the different opinions that we should be free to have.
There is not one answer to any issue that will/could satisfy everyone.
For my message I wrote, "HOW CAN I CHOOSE JUST 1 THING..." I decided to do this because, whilst thinking of the issue I wanted to highlight, I realised I couldn't decide on one. This is the problem. There are too many issues in the world, each one outweighing another whilst still being controversial. Everyone has different opinions and beliefs, you can't solve one issue without making someone unhappy. Along with this I put an image of a fruit bowl because picking a fruit is simple and easy on the mind, there are greater matters in the world that outweigh this. I also used this image because while one person may choose and apple, another may choose an orange, people don't see the world the same way because of all the different opinions that we should be free to have.
There is not one answer to any issue that will/could satisfy everyone.
If you went to Southbourne Crossroads car park and didn't make a montage, did you even go to Southbourne Crossroads car park?
Pushing and developing on political photography with the previous task in mind, we explored our local area (Southbourne Crossroads explicitly). Our aim was to create a response dealing with people, ideas and politics. To begin I decided to research the area on the Bournemouth echo, facebook and other sites, this led me to find a petition in 2017 to stop the building of flats on the Southbourne crossroads car park. This story kept cropping up. I decided to use the car park as my basis.
My intention was to go down to the car park and stake it out, waiting for people to come so I could talk to them. however, I don't know if you've ever tried staking out a car park during the day, on a weekday- not much activity to say the least. I managed to talk to one person (possible painter or carpenter- he had a dust mask on) who thought I was a parking ticket warden? He shouted across the car park a little, "Are you doing the cars?", I thought he was insinuating he didn't want his car photographed, weird, but he thought I was checking for tickets, weirder. I went over to him and he began rapidly explaining that he'd just forgotten to put his permit up as his daughter owns "that one", pointing in the vague direction of the houses behind him. Anyway, since there was no-one there to talk to me about the car park, I used the reviews on facebook and the bournemouth echo to form a poem about the carpark (see right), its slightly nonsense but that was the intention. |
The land was bequeathed to the people of Southbourne in 1870 somebody can verify this.
The 78 space car park operated at a loss 5 out of 5. Based on the opinion of 1 person 1 Person Gary Platt head of property at Bournemouth council Better understanding of the demand for car parking in the area Please sign the petition. Signed and shared Helping the local economy Ive noticed that it is used quite often. Quite. Often amazing how a piece of land can change done Helping families to enjoy a great day out Lost to the people of Southbourne for ever Proposal to build on Southbourne Crossroads car park Me too! Helping Southbourne tourism allowing stress free car park Enjoy a stress free day Full once a year and is a terrible state Terrible state |
I used this poem as the audio to my cringey montage video of the car park, typing it into a text converter to get that robotic voice. I decided to make a cringey montage video because these people are complaining about the state of the car park whilst trying to save it. My video is intentionally ironic. The car park has its own facebook page to 'document the activity' of the car park, one of my favourite posts is "Southbourne Crossroads car park and community garden. Allowing stress free parking at the Air Festival and healthy living and interest for locals and visitors. Good for local business and tourism." to which Antony Wilkinson replied "Whilst the garden is indeed very nice the carpark is full once a year and is a terrible mess."
I am happy with how this video turned out, I think the cringe levels were what I anticipated. When viewed by my peers, some wriggled in their seats due to the cringe. When taking the footage I decided to consider panning and zooming as my main filming dynamic, I did this as this is what you would find in your average, stereotypical holiday montage. To push at this idea further I have decided to produce a small photobook consisting of still images from my video then, wrap them in plastic and write "parking notice enclosed" on them and place them under the window wipers of cars in the car park. I will also write a formal letter explaining the contents of the photobook without giving out my personal details.
I am happy with how this video turned out, I think the cringe levels were what I anticipated. When viewed by my peers, some wriggled in their seats due to the cringe. When taking the footage I decided to consider panning and zooming as my main filming dynamic, I did this as this is what you would find in your average, stereotypical holiday montage. To push at this idea further I have decided to produce a small photobook consisting of still images from my video then, wrap them in plastic and write "parking notice enclosed" on them and place them under the window wipers of cars in the car park. I will also write a formal letter explaining the contents of the photobook without giving out my personal details.