Trusting the documentary: the epistemic value of anthropological photography

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Full text / preprint will be available soon.

 

Abstract

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In this paper, I consider anthropological photography as a specific subgenre of documentary photography. I argue that this subgenre is dedicated to portraying the life and culture of indigenous and ethnic peoples. Anthropological photography possesses epistemic value, as audiences expect to learn something true about the life and culture of the portrayed groups. In this respect, interpreting anthropological photography is contrasted with artistic (e.g., symbolic) interpretations of non-documentary fine at photography.

I explain the photographic meaning construction process of anthropological photography within the conceptual framework of photographic illocutionary acts. The operation of specifically anthropological photographic illocutionary acts is demonstrated by analysing the meaning construction process of Edward S. Curtis’ image “Fishing Spearing – Clayoquot”.

I discuss various forms of locutionary and illocutionary deceptions in anthropological photography. Relying on the conceptual framework and analytical methodology of photographic illocutionary acts, I examine specific images from Jimmy Nelson’s book Before They Pass Away. I argue that these images can become ambiguous and possibly deceptive in the context of their presentation and use. The analysis also demonstrates the utility of the theory of photographic illocutionary acts as an analytical tool for understanding the meaning construction process in photography.

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