Photography, Representation, and Memory

Anthropology of Media ANTH 2301 Photography, Representation, and Memory The study of visual representation and cultural anthropology are combined to form the multidisciplinary discipline of visual anthropology, which explores how civilizations produce and use visual media to represent one another and themselves. Visual anthropologists are particularly interested in how different civilizations, especially those outside of the West, are portrayed in media like National Geographic. In addition to producing their own visual media, this investigation frequently include examining how individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds generate and are portrayed in visual media. National Geographic magazine was a common educational resource for school-age children in many American homes and classrooms throughout the second part of the 20th century. Since its founding in 1888, National Geographic has gained recognition for its lively, colourful illustrations that cover a wide range of subjects, including science, geography, history, and world cultures. Currently, the magazine—which is partially owned by the Walt Disney Company—has over six million readers worldwide and is published in forty languages. Young readers are frequently drawn to National Geographic not just because of its educational text but also because of its engrossing pictures of non-Western cultures. Despite their fascination, these photos make us think critically about representation and the stories that are told in visual media. Sociologist Jane Collins and cultural anthropologist Catherine Lutz conducted an extensive investigation of how people were portrayed in settings outside of Western Europe and the United States by National Geographic. Using a comprehensive approach, they examined National Geographic's production procedures, carried out in-depth content analysis of the pictures, and spoke with people to find out how they understood the pictures. 600 National Geographic images from 1950 to 1986 that included non-Western peoples were examined by Lutz and Collins. Their research identified a pattern: non-Western individuals were frequently represented in the magazine as exotic, idealised, and strongly related to nature. Seldom did these photos provide light on the subjects' convoluted postcolonial and colonial pasts or their participation in local, national, and international activities. Rather than having any political or historical background, the images primarily showed contented people living conventional lives. Because of this representation, viewers ("us") and the subjects ("them") were believed to be at different developmental or evolutionary stages, implying that non-Western peoples were less advanced or simpler than their Western counterparts. While highlighting a theme of shared humanity, the photos in National Geographic unintentionally perpetuated orientalist and primitivist preconceptions. These prejudices frequently portrayed non-Western peoples as being in an ephemeral, static condition that is cut off from the contemporary world. This representation presented a sanitised image of their cultures that disregarded the effects of colonialism, globalisation, and socio-political transformations, obscuring the historical and political realities that influenced their lives. The study by Lutz and Collins demonstrated how visual media may reinforce prejudices and shape people's perspectives. National Geographic contributed to a narrative that portrayed non-Western peoples as "others"—different and remote from the contemporary, developed world—by idealising and exoticizing these civilizations. According to this portrayal, nonWestern civilizations were still behind Western societies in terms of development and modernity. Furthermore, the romanticised idea of the "noble savage," living in peace with their surroundings and unaffected by the intricacies of contemporary life, was strengthened by the representation of non-Western peoples as being close to nature. This viewpoint reduced these civilizations to simplified stereotypes, ignoring their dynamic and varied character. The journal ignored the continuous adjustments and changes these civilizations were going through by emphasising the traditional parts of these cultures. What was so troubling about these photos was the lack of political and historical context. National Geographic gave an inaccurate and partial image by ignoring the colonial past and current struggles that non-Western peoples confront. The pictures in the magazine presented these civilizations as static and unchanging, oblivious to the historical influences that had formed and still affect them. The production procedures at National Geographic were also examined in Lutz and Collins's study, which revealed how editorial choices influenced the magazine's visual storytelling. The need to portray a palatable and marketable picture of the world affected these choices, frequently putting aesthetics ahead of reality. A specific image of non-Western cultures that matched the magazine's brand and reader expectations was created through the choice of photos, how topics were framed, and the text that went with them. Reader interviews provided insight into how these visuals were seen and comprehended. Many readers took the photos at face value, without scrutinising the editing decisions or underlying storylines, believing them to be true portrayals of non-Western peoples. The magazine's preconceptions and false beliefs were strengthened by this mindless acceptance, which influenced how readers saw the world and their own role in it. Lutz and Collins's research has ramifications that go beyond National Geographic, drawing attention to more general problems with representation in visual media. Their results highlight the need for a more critical and sophisticated way to represent cultural diversity. While visual media may be enlightening and educational, it can also mislead people and reinforce preconceptions. It is crucial for us as media consumers to critically interact with the stories that are presented in the media and to be aware of the editorial decisions and production methods that influence the visuals we see. In conclusion, the research done by Catherine Lutz and Jane Collins on how non-Western people are portrayed in National Geographic shows the intricate relationship that exists between representation, perception, and visual media. Their analysis shows how, despite the magazine's visually striking imagery, it frequently reinforced prejudices and hid the political and historical backgrounds of the persons it featured. National Geographic contributed to a narrative that portrayed non-Western peoples as "others," apart from the contemporary world, by portraying them as exotic and idealised. This study emphasises how crucial it is to evaluate visual media critically and pay attention to the stories they provide, as editorial choices and larger sociocultural influences frequently influence what we perceive.