Abstract
Photography and social change have a long history. In the late 19th century, social reformer Jacob Riis highlighted the dismal conditions of new immigrants arriving in the US in the groundbreaking documentary project, “How the Other Half Lives.” Lewis Hine covertly documented the conditions of children working in factories and mines. His photographs were instrumental in bringing about the passage of the first child labor laws in the United States. The persistent influence of feminist photographers from the 19th century until today continues to affect positive social change. Contemporary social documentary photography illuminates the struggle for racial equality, gender equity, anti-ageism, and disenfranchised communities in general. My study compares photography and religion as agents of social reform.
Presenters
Roddy MacInnesProfessor of Photography, School of Art and Art History, University of Denver, Colorado, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Fragile Meanings: Vulnerability in the Study of Religions and Spirituality
KEYWORDS
Photography, Social change, Religion, Self-portraiture
