The Repercussions of the Camera

The invention of the camera brought upon many possibilities for both documentation and art purposes, but due to its accuracy in capturing pictures, some painters felt threatened by the invention of this new technology, while some conformed to this new technology and began learning photography, others used this as a way to strike out amongst the construct of normality, creating surrealism.

Surrealism

Surrealism was created in the early 1920’s and known for representing dream or hallucinogenic like paintings. This can be seen in one of the most iconic pieces form the surrealist movement, The Persistence of Memory (1931), by Salvador Dali.

https://www.art.co.uk/products/p5991468465-sa-i781458/salvador-dali-the-persistence-of-memory-c-1931.htm

This work conceptually nonsensical, yet it is this randomness that makes the work so interesting in the first place. Even though the work is so famous, to this day, we still do not know what the meaning of this work is. “Why are the clocks melting?”, “What is the meaning of the half face?”, “Why does the water break off into a tile?” and many other questions are asked when looking at the strange features of this landscape.

Social Commentary

Along with the development of portable cameras, came the realisation of their use in Social Justice. In this context, Social Justice is the act of bringing to light the mistreatment and struggle of the under-privileged and and abused.

Public Domain

This photograph from 1908 shows children working at a glass works and is part of the National Child Labor Committee. Pictures such as this were beginning to spread around the late 1800’s to early 1900’s inspiring the public opinion on the morality of sending children to work in such dangerous conditions. This would eventually lead to strict rules in the worker rights.

This style of photography is still used today, whether it is in the form of charity foundations building sympathy to encourage donations or to report on the effects of natural disasters on the less fortunate. I personally feel this is an okay practice, as long as it is done in a way that is faithful to the truth.