Write a reflection in your learning log about some of the ways in which
marginalised or under-represented people or groups could be badly or
unhelpfully portrayed.

● How might being an insider help combat this?

‘From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried’ – Carrie Mae Weems

Carrie Mae Weems: Considered one of the most influential contemporary American artists, Carrie Mae Weems has investigated family relationships, cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, and the consequences of power. (Goodlin) . In 1995 she created the work from a series of dauerrotypes of Africans and African Americans originally made by Swiss naturalist and anthropologist, Louis Agassiz (Short et al., 110).

Weems argues that the original images were taken from the Anglo / White American point of view, many of which did not record the sitters name. The people depicted were seen as anthropological subjects rather than peoples with story’s and live and by that nature it could be argued that these images mis-represented these peoples identity.

By reimaging the images, recolouring them and adding text, Weems has rewritten the story of these people “given them a voice where historically they had no voice (Weems 2000).

Installation of the exhibition: “Pictures by Women” A History of Modern Photography (Part 1)

‘Towards a Promised Land’ – Wendy Ewald

In contrast to Weems work, Ewald made a new piece of work involving the subjects.

She was commissioned to undertake work with migrant children in the UK.

“Towards a Promised Land opened in July 2005 on the chalk cliffs near Margate, UK. The five 3 by 4 meter triptychs were displayed against the retaining walls protecting the white cliffs of Margate, a town that was once a thriving vacation center, but that is known more today as a “holding location” for individuals and families who have sought refuge in England from the wars and disorders of their home countries – but have come into the country without the “proper” documents”

Each triptych consists of a photograph of a child’s face, a second of the back of the head and in the middle an image of personal possessions that the child brought with him. The photographic banners hung with the children looking out to sea and inward to a possible new home. Most banners show text as well as image. The youths wrote directly on my photographs reflecting on their pasts, futures and what they left behind. I worked for more than a year with 11 of these children, whose lives have been marred by violence and dispossession. In addition to making large portraits of the children, I taught them basic camera skills. They made photographs of their early days in Margate, maps of their journeys, and recorded their stories. (Artangel)

Although not an insider with this group of children, Ewald has involved them in the process and given them the opportunity to use their own words. The presentation of this work, on the sea walls and in the centre of the town, promotes understanding to the indigenous population of Margate.

Reza, Born 1991, Afghanistan; arrived in Kent 2004. Resettled in Kent. (Ewald, 2003 – 2006)

Reflection:

These two examples show that when people who have direct knowledge of a situation are involved in a project, the result is a more rounded and fairer portrayal of the situation. We bring our own view point to a project which may be misinformed and / or biased.

In my role as a quality manager in the NHS, one of our key priorities is that providers consult and listen to their patients experiences in order to learn and improve their services. Without listening to patients, we can only guess the service is meeting the patient’s needs. I think this the same for a body of photographic work. If it is something that we are not part of or and ‘insider’, we need to research, read and listen to those that are, in order to produce a helpful portrayal of the situation.

Works Cited

Artangel. “Towards a Promised Land.” Www.artangel.org.uk, www.artangel.org.uk/project/towards-a-promised-land/. Accessed 8 Feb. 2021.

Goodlin, Lisa. “Carrie Mae Weems : Biography.” Carriemaeweems.net, 2012, carriemaeweems.net/bio.html.

Short, Maria, et al. Context and Narrative in Photography. London, Uk ; New York, Ny, Usa, Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2020.

tkim441. “From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried.” Afterlives of Slavery, Afterlives of Slavery, 22 Nov. 2017, afterlivesofslavery.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/from-here-i-saw-what-happened-and-i-cried/.

“Towards a Promised Land.” Wendy Ewald, wendyewald.com/portfolio/margate-towards-a-promised-land