Summary of "In, Around and Afterthoughts"

This article had multiple points to make, all relating back to criticisms of documentary photography. Basically, the author believes that true documentary photography has yet to be invented. She believes that documentary photography has yet to realize it's true calling: the ability to transcend, alter or change the negative aspects of society - ie, use art as a form of social activism. Instead, documentary photo has fallen into two categories: Liberal (past) and Explorative (present). Liberal seeks to evoke pity in viewers, inviting them to help those depicted. Explorative seeks to understand feelings of alienation within the scope of sexism, racism, urban decay and class conciousness. Neither categories reach documentary photography's real potential. It is only when one seeks to utilize photos as a means of fostering change that one understands the goal of documentary work.