Exploring Photography's Profound Impact on History, Culture & Society

This assignment explores the profound impact of photography on history, culture, and society through four key questions. It begins by examining the significance of photographer Sam Shaw and his iconic "flying skirt" image of Marilyn Monroe, discussing its role in shaping the portrayal of women in mass media. The assignment then delves into the era of photojournalism from the 1950s to 1970s, using Philip Jones Griffiths's work during the Vietnam War as an example of how images can raise social consciousness. Furthermore, it analyzes the increasing importance of photography in popular culture and consumerism during the early 20th century, highlighting how photos were used to attract consumers and communicate with the world. Finally, the assignment discusses the application of photography to social action in the 21st century, emphasizing its potential to draw public attention to global problems and the risk of manipulating reality through images, referencing Jean Baudrillard's theory of hyperreality and the Gulf War as an example.

Running head: Photography and history
Photography and history
Name of the student
Name of the university
Authors note

Photography and history
Question 1 Using any photographer discuss with reference to specific photographic images why
that person or type of use of photography or equipment is significant.
Fig.1: Flying skirt
Source: photographer Sam Shaw shot the iconic image of Marilyn Monroe during the filming of "The
Seven Year Itch." (Photo © Sam Shaw Inc. licensed by Shaw Family Archives) (Behind-the-Scenes of
Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Flying Skirt (PHOTOS). (2019).)

Photography and history
Photographer Sam Shaw shot this photo on September 15, 1954. This picture
is best known as “flying skirt” and this picture has a huge importance in the history of
portrayal of women in mass media. The photo was important because it was the breaking
point by which Marline Munroe because the sex symbol. Instead of covering her legs, she
shouted, “Isn’t it delicious!” this seems to be break from the traditional picture of girls benefit
city and docile. The disposure of Marlyne was instant a he success, because she was one of
the radicle believe who was ahead of time. Her identity was not one of dependent in nature
she created as image within the people not the public. For the first time the body of woman
was being pictured in roles other than one of reproductive purposes. However on the other
had critiques too had their part, where they criticised her move as a sexualised object. Her
body was used for the consumption by the media industry, thus it was commoditized for the
male pleasure, where gain their identity is defined in reference to male viewer.
Amid of everything shame and pleasure, this particular picture gain an eternal
status which cannot be erased with the growing time.

Photography and history
Q:2 What was "photojournalism" in the 1950s to 1970s? Give at least one example of a story and
why it was important. Be sure to suggest how the story/ image(s) was received by the public and
whether that received message was accurate or misinterpreted (eg did the image show what
really happened or did it show something different to the viewers?)
The sentiment for providing a sharpened vision grew in an exponential way
during the period of 1950-60. This phase was known as the apotheosis of photojournalism
because most of the photographers joined the bandwagon of photojournalism. The Photo
League photographer Sid Grossman (1900.1139.1) expressed these sentiments by his works
in photo essays. Photojournalism is particular from of journalism that employs images in
order to tell a story. Traditionally photos were used as a medium to enhance the information
of text but this changed after photojournalism were photos were used to depict the
information.
Fig.2 Boy breaking the piano

Photography and history
Sources: Boy Destroying Piano, Wales, 1961 © Philip Jones Griffiths / Magnum Photos
However, there were images, which managed to gain popularity and construed the
information to its audience. Socially the images that were taken during the Vietnam War raise
the conscious level among the masses. This is because the naked girl running for her life
cannot be the picture of the civilised nation. Photographer Philip Jones never liked to be
called a war photographer because he was never interested in taking record of the action but
wanted to understand the complex situation in which it is taking place. This picture in Fig.2,
coincided with the actual reality that was taking in place at that time. The sense of humanity
was in danger because it was the time of destruction, destruction so crude that even a boy
seems to smash piano. The piano not only represents the music of recreation but also the
music of life, that is, the sound of life. This entire narrative could communicated using
pictures to its viewers, the picture did not communicate in piece but through its entire frame.

Photography and history
Q:3 the first third of the twentieth century saw photography used in support of popular culture
and consumption. Briefly describe how photography became increasing important in the popular
culture and material world until 1939. In order to explain this, include three examples of ways
that photographs were changing how people were interacting with their world (cultural or
material).
In the first half of 20th century, audio and visual techniques were used in pervasive ways in
order to influence the market consumption. The move was from production to consumption, this was
also the time, when there was the rise of consumer culture. Things were not sold due to intrinsic value
but were sold due to their visual appeal. Photos were used extensively for a purpose the use of
photography was used for attracting consumer. Photos were used to communicate with the world and
it made the life easier. This is because things, which were not accessible before, were being replicated
in an unprecedented way, where the authenticity of artistic skills came in great danger.
The history of photography can be divided in phases, in the first phase it started with a box
popularly regarded as camera obsucra, which refers to dark chamber, people used to view this in the
light of mystery(Fig.3). Then with the time changes commences in, print media was in rise, and
photos were used to substantiate the information. This from the mystery photos became the was in
which objective reality got substantiated (Fig.4). The peak of new sensations were on rise which also
got percolated in every form of life. However, photography was still a status quo. With the rise of
35mm photographic camera, usage of photographic images were more taken up by people. However
after the digitization, photography is enjoyed in an accelerated way (Fig.5).

Photography and history
Fig.3 VERMEER AND THE CAMERA OBSCURA
(Source: dondon, e., dondon, e., & profile, V. 2019).
Fig. 4 David Rothman was in his work clothes and Albert Einstein was dressed for the beach
when they posed on this rock at Horseshoe Cove in Nassau Point in the summer of 1939.
Source: (People, C. 2019)

Photography and history
Fig.5 Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, 1936, Gelatin silver
print.
(Source: Twentieth-Century Photography.2019).

Photography and history
Q:4 During the beginning of the twenty-first century, the application of photography to social
action has become more a part of activists. Using specific examples of photographers or images
(give title and either the photographer or social action group using the image) show how
photography can influence people to think about the problems of the planet.
Photos has a huge potential to draw attention of public. With the advancement of science and
technology, photography was used to capture social activities. Things were replicated and human
were taking culture of human. The sense became the eye, anything which is seen will be more valid
than anything which cannot be pictured. The picture has become the power in the media mass.
However, the influence is so strong that images have moved to prove hyperactive reality. For
example, the picturization of gulf war across the transnational borders actually gained the
authentication and was considered a real. According to theory of Jean Baudraliiad, picture in the
postmodern world has gained the importance of hyperactive reality. Use of photography can be used
in deceitful way to spread false information, this is because technologically inspired modern societies
fails to distinguish the reality against the stimulation of reality. In this fig.6 the reality in gulf war
projected in the screen became the reality which everyone believed in.
Fig.6: Gulf War
(Source: History.com 2019)

Photography and history
References
Behind-the-Scenes of Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Flying Skirt (PHOTOS). (2019).
Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/news/marilyn-
monroe-seven-year-itch-dress-photos
dondon, e., dondon, e., & profile, V. (2019). A History of Photography. Retrieved from
http://beginsphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/history-of-
photography.html
People, C. (2019). Einstein at the beach, 1939. Retrieved from
https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/einstein-at-the-beach-1939/
Persian Gulf War. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/persian-gulf-war
Twentieth-Century Photography. (2019). Retrieved from
http://arthistoryteachingresources.org/lessons/twentieth-
century-photography/