Response for 3/3/08 class

In, around, and afterthoughts (on documentary photography)
Martha Rosler’s 1981 essay seems to be a severely pessimistic view of documentary photography and how it is used and ultimately viewed. She focuses on how images are groomed for viewing for use in a magazine or newspaper and the meaning is altered so to sway its true intent. The meaning, according to her, has not only gone to the wayside but the images are viewed and forgotten about by the masses (mainly by the wealthy).

According to Rosler the documentaries of the 1960’s had more substance and meaning (to correct a social wrong..) which has been replaced by the more contemporary Diane Arbus type who’s work (according to Rosler) seems to exploit the odd or the unusual persona. The media has also changed the persona of a sidewalk drunk into a more palatable substance abuse user, changing the terminology with an image can change the viewers interpretation as well.

Weather it is a digital print being altered through Photoshop or a documentary about the plight of some-whatary the meaning can be altered by the photographer, publisher the viewer or all three and that will not change with time.

I’m sure I have said it before but the world probably needs to ingest not just more fiber for well being but a little moral fiber as well.