📷History of Photography Unit 11 – Iconic Photos: Historical Impact & Context

What's This Unit About?

• Explores the historical significance and cultural impact of iconic photographs throughout history
• Examines the stories behind famous images and the photographers who captured them
• Analyzes how these photographs shaped public perception and influenced social, political, and cultural change
• Investigates the technical aspects of photography and how they contribute to the power of iconic images
• Discusses controversies and debates surrounding the interpretation and use of these photographs
• Considers the modern relevance and enduring legacy of iconic photographs in shaping collective memory and visual culture

Key Photos & Their Stories

• "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange (1936) depicts a destitute pea picker and her children during the Great Depression, becoming a symbol of the era's hardships
• "Tank Man" by Jeff Widener (1989) captures a lone protester standing in front of a line of tanks during the Tiananmen Square protests, embodying the struggle for democracy
• "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" by Joe Rosenthal (1945) shows U.S. Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during World War II, symbolizing victory and sacrifice
  • The photograph was later used as the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia
• "The Terror of War" by Nick Ut (1972) portrays a naked Vietnamese girl running from a napalm attack, exposing the brutality of the Vietnam War and shifting public opinion
  • The girl in the photograph, Phan Thị Kim Phúc, later became a peace activist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
• "Earthrise" by William Anders (1968) offers a view of Earth rising above the lunar landscape, captured during the Apollo 8 mission, inspiring a new perspective on our planet's fragility and beauty

Historical Context

• Many iconic photographs are tied to significant historical events, such as wars, social movements, and political upheavals
• The Great Depression (1929-1939) served as a backdrop for Lange's "Migrant Mother," highlighting the economic hardship and social dislocation of the era
• World War II (1939-1945) was the setting for Rosenthal's "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima," which came to represent the sacrifices made by American troops
• The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was a highly controversial conflict that divided public opinion, and photographs like Ut's "The Terror of War" played a crucial role in shaping attitudes towards the war
  • The publication of such images in the media fueled anti-war sentiment and contributed to the growing opposition to U.S. involvement in Vietnam
• The Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968) in the United States was a struggle for racial equality and social justice, and photographs documenting key events and figures became powerful tools for raising awareness and mobilizing support
• The Space Race (1955-1975) between the United States and the Soviet Union culminated in the Apollo missions, and images like "Earthrise" captured the public imagination and sparked a new interest in space exploration

Photographers Behind the Lens

• Dorothea Lange was a prominent documentary photographer who worked for the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression, using her camera to shed light on the plight of migrant workers and rural poverty
• Joe Rosenthal was an Associated Press photographer who accompanied U.S. troops during World War II, capturing some of the most iconic images of the conflict, including the flag-raising on Iwo Jima
• Nick Ut was a Vietnamese-American photographer for the Associated Press who covered the Vietnam War, and his photograph "The Terror of War" became a defining image of the conflict's impact on civilians
  • Ut's photograph played a significant role in turning public opinion against the war and highlighting the need for greater protection of non-combatants in armed conflicts
• Eddie Adams was a photojournalist who covered the Vietnam War for the Associated Press, and his photograph of the summary execution of a Viet Cong prisoner by a South Vietnamese general became a symbol of the war's brutality
• Alberto Korda was a Cuban photographer best known for his portrait of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, which became an iconic symbol of revolution and resistance worldwide

Technical Aspects

• Iconic photographs often rely on the skillful use of composition, lighting, and timing to create a powerful visual impact
• Lange's "Migrant Mother" employs a close-up, intimate perspective that emphasizes the subject's facial expression and body language, conveying a sense of despair and resilience
• Rosenthal's "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" uses a low angle and a dynamic, triangular composition to create a sense of heroism and triumph
• Ut's "The Terror of War" captures a moment of raw emotion and chaos, with the central figure's anguished expression and the billowing smoke in the background adding to the photograph's dramatic intensity
  • The use of black and white film also contributes to the stark, haunting quality of the image
• Anders' "Earthrise" relies on the contrast between the lunar landscape in the foreground and the vibrant, colorful Earth in the background to create a sense of scale and wonder
• The use of advanced photographic technology, such as high-speed cameras and telephoto lenses, has enabled photographers to capture split-second moments and distant scenes with unprecedented clarity and detail

Cultural Impact

• Iconic photographs have the power to shape public perception, influence social and political attitudes, and create lasting cultural symbols
• Lange's "Migrant Mother" became a defining image of the Great Depression, humanizing the suffering of the era and prompting greater public support for government relief efforts
• Rosenthal's "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" became a symbol of American patriotism and sacrifice, and was used extensively in war bond drives and other propaganda efforts
• Ut's "The Terror of War" helped to turn public opinion against the Vietnam War and raise awareness of the conflict's impact on civilians, contributing to the growing anti-war movement
  • The photograph also sparked discussions about the ethics of wartime journalism and the responsibility of the media in shaping public understanding of conflicts
• Korda's portrait of Che Guevara became a global icon of revolution and resistance, appearing on countless posters, t-shirts, and other merchandise, and inspiring political and social movements around the world
• Iconic photographs have also influenced the development of visual culture, setting new standards for photojournalism and documentary photography, and inspiring generations of photographers to use their cameras as tools for social change

Controversies & Debates

• The interpretation and use of iconic photographs have often been subject to controversy and debate, with questions raised about their authenticity, context, and political implications
• Some critics have argued that Lange's "Migrant Mother" was staged or manipulated to create a more compelling image, though Lange herself insisted that the photograph was candid and unposed
• The identities of the flag-raisers in Rosenthal's "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" have been the subject of ongoing debate and investigation, with some claims that the photograph actually depicts a second, larger flag-raising later in the day
• The publication of Ut's "The Terror of War" raised ethical questions about the use of graphic images in the media and the potential for such photographs to exploit or re-traumatize their subjects
  • Some have also criticized the Western media's focus on certain iconic images of war and suffering, arguing that this can lead to a narrow, sensationalized understanding of complex political and social issues
• The appropriation of Korda's Che Guevara portrait by commercial interests and political groups has been seen by some as a dilution or distortion of the image's original meaning and context
• There have been ongoing debates about the role of photography in shaping historical memory and the responsibility of photographers and media outlets in presenting accurate, contextual information about iconic images

Modern Relevance & Legacy

• Iconic photographs continue to resonate with contemporary audiences and inspire new generations of photographers and activists
• The issues and themes addressed in many iconic photographs, such as poverty, war, and social injustice, remain relevant to modern society and continue to be the focus of documentary photography and photojournalism
• The rise of social media and citizen journalism has created new opportunities for photographs to go viral and become iconic in real-time, as seen with images from the Arab Spring uprisings and the Black Lives Matter movement
• Iconic photographs have also been the subject of artistic reinterpretation and appropriation, with contemporary artists using famous images as the basis for new works that comment on their cultural and political significance
  • For example, artist Awol Erizku's photograph "Girl with a Bamboo Earring" (2009) reimagines the iconic Vermeer painting with a young African woman, challenging traditional notions of beauty and representation in art history
• The study of iconic photographs and their impact has become an important area of research in fields such as visual culture, media studies, and history, with scholars examining the ways in which these images shape collective memory and cultural identity
• The enduring legacy of iconic photographs lies in their ability to capture pivotal moments in history, evoke strong emotional responses, and inspire social and political change, cementing their place in the canon of visual culture