photo

Online Discussion #7: Documenting Social Issues

As you recently read in your Ang text, the Great Depression gave birth to many great social

documentary photographers. War World II took propaganda photography to another level. These

two forms of photography (social documentary and propaganda) have been and can be mixed in

ways that sometimes tell the difference is hard. Sometimes, the usage of a photograph for

propaganda purposes is beyond the photographer's control. It is often done in the editorial room.

Directions:

1. Read the directions in its entirety before you start your discussion. 2. Browse the articles on the Documenting Social Issues links below.

o http://www.motherjones.com/media/2015/02/ken-light-american-stories-photos-

60s

o http://www.berkeleyside.com/2015/02/19/exposing-a-tumultuous-era-

photographer-ken-light/

o https://www.lensculture.com/articles/ken-light-what-s-going-on

o http://photowings.org/ken-light-continuing-the-photo-documentary-tradition-in-

the-21st-century/

o http://www.ucreative.com/features/featured-photographer-interview-social-

documentary-photographer-ken-light/

Ted Talk Links that may help you:

• http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_klein_photos_that_changed_the_world

• http://www.ted.com/talks/sebastiao_salgado_the_silent_drama_of_photography

• http://www.ted.com/talks/james_nachtwey_s_searing_pictures_of_war

3. Post your answer to my question below (14pts):

Give one example of a photograph that helped change the course of history. You can find

samples of photos in the Module titled "Resource for Discussion #7: Photos that changed the

course of history". You may use any of these images, or the ones you saw on the TedTalk videos

above (#2), or other images you found on your own.

Make sure you do the following:

3a. Embed the picture on your post.

3b. Cite the photographer (if known)

3c. Describe how the image you choose changed history. Was it for the better or worse?

Did the change happen because of the image or the way it was used? Explain in details.

3d. Cite References

4. Respond to 2 other students’ answer (6pts).