Photographer As Witness, The

Synopsis

Examines the part played by photographers in the discovery of poverty in late 19th-century America. The policy of eradicating social ills by government measures occurred during the period known as the Progressive Era, which abounded in campaigns for laws on behalf of public health, proper housing, compulsory education, workmen’s compensation, and the regulation of child labour. The 1890s saw the introduction of a viable half-tome method of reproducing photographs in newspapers, periodicals, books and printed matter of all sorts. The influence of mass produced photographs upon a public conception of reality proved incalculable. The two outstanding photographers of the ‘social question’ were Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine who are the subjects of the programme. It examines the differences in subject and style of their work in order to explain the deeper differences in moral and political outlook which the two photographers represent.

Series

Themes in British and American History: A Comparative Approach C1760-1970, Course A317

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 25 min.

Year of production

1985

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Uses

Introduction to historical methods; film and society in America (section on ‘how to read an image’); MA in American studies.*

Subjects

History; Sociology

Keywords

photography; poverty; United States of America

Credits

Producer

Susan Boyd-Bowman

Writer

Alan Trachtenburg

Contributor

Daniel J Leab

Cast

Alan Trachtenburg

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk