Photographic Essay
WR 121
W.J.T. Mitchell Photographic Essay
W.T.J Mitchell’s The Photographic Essay: Four Case Studies is a very descriptive short essay that defines what constitutes a photographic essay and what components go along with it. Mitchell’s thesis states that since photography is a language and text is a language the two need to be combined so the observer will have a better chance in finding the true “story”, hence the “photographic essay”. He uses clear examples of ways in which different photographic essays are constructed and the positive and negatives that go with them. The components are: Spy and Counter-spy; Labyrinth and Thread; Voyeurism and Exorcism; Exile and Return.
Mitchell’s first subtitle is “Spy and Counter-spy”. A great example in defining what this means is “judging a book by its cover”. When one looks at a photo without text there is a good chance that the observer will make assumptions and those assumptions may be wrong. Without text it is as if a person is spying into a person’s house and making a story of how they live without having the “true story”. Spying is simply an observance, but without facts behind the spy many false accusations can and will be made.
Mitchell’s second subtitle is “Labyrinth and Thread”. Mitchell doesn’t believe that photos need to be in straight order they can be in a “maze” but Mitchell is very adamant that if the photos are not in order they must have words to thread them together.
Mitchell’s third subtitle is “Voyeurism and Exorcism”. Voyeurism is many times defined as a “peeping tom”. The main characteristic of a voyeur is a person who spies but does not relate directly to that of which they are observing. In this case in terms of photography and text Mitchell’s concern is that the text and the picture do not relate. Mitchell uses exorcism in hopes people will get to the root of the photo and pull out and factually write the truth.
In Mitchell’s fourth subtitle “Exile and Return”, he clearly states on
W.J.T. Mitchell Photographic Essay
W.T.J Mitchell’s The Photographic Essay: Four Case Studies is a very descriptive short essay that defines what constitutes a photographic essay and what components go along with it. Mitchell’s thesis states that since photography is a language and text is a language the two need to be combined so the observer will have a better chance in finding the true “story”, hence the “photographic essay”. He uses clear examples of ways in which different photographic essays are constructed and the positive and negatives that go with them. The components are: Spy and Counter-spy; Labyrinth and Thread; Voyeurism and Exorcism; Exile and Return.
Mitchell’s first subtitle is “Spy and Counter-spy”. A great example in defining what this means is “judging a book by its cover”. When one looks at a photo without text there is a good chance that the observer will make assumptions and those assumptions may be wrong. Without text it is as if a person is spying into a person’s house and making a story of how they live without having the “true story”. Spying is simply an observance, but without facts behind the spy many false accusations can and will be made.
Mitchell’s second subtitle is “Labyrinth and Thread”. Mitchell doesn’t believe that photos need to be in straight order they can be in a “maze” but Mitchell is very adamant that if the photos are not in order they must have words to thread them together.
Mitchell’s third subtitle is “Voyeurism and Exorcism”. Voyeurism is many times defined as a “peeping tom”. The main characteristic of a voyeur is a person who spies but does not relate directly to that of which they are observing. In this case in terms of photography and text Mitchell’s concern is that the text and the picture do not relate. Mitchell uses exorcism in hopes people will get to the root of the photo and pull out and factually write the truth.
In Mitchell’s fourth subtitle “Exile and Return”, he clearly states on