social reform
Photography and Social Reform xxxxxxxx ARTS/125
April 20, 2015 xxxxxxx Photography and Social Reform
Photography was used as an instrument of social reform by showing the middle and upper class how the less fortunate live. Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine were referred to as social reformers because of their style of photography. Their style of photography tried to effect social change. According to “Gilded Age” (n.d.), “The reformers’ problem was to rouse the public from its lethargy, make consciences uneasy, and stir genial good will into enthusiasm for social betterment. Their first step was to lay bare the responsibility of the community for needless suffering (Improving City Conditions)”.
The photograph that I feel makes the most powerful social commentary is Street Arabs in Sleeping Quarters by Jacob Riis. I feel this is a powerful photograph because it shows children huddled together sleeping on what looks like a sidewalk. It shows how poor children would have to sleep to stay warm – by using body heat from each other. This photograph plays on the emotions because it uses children as opposed to adults.
The Gilded Age had many photographers but the ones that I feel played to biggest part in social reform were Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine. In my opinion Jacob Riis created the most touching photographs of all. His photographs showed how the poor people lived and how hard their life was. His hope was to show the upper class how these people lived so that hopefully the poor people could receive some sort of financial assistance.
Reference
Gilded Age. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://sites.google.com/site/gildedagehhs13/hine-and-riis
April 20, 2015 xxxxxxx Photography and Social Reform
Photography was used as an instrument of social reform by showing the middle and upper class how the less fortunate live. Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine were referred to as social reformers because of their style of photography. Their style of photography tried to effect social change. According to “Gilded Age” (n.d.), “The reformers’ problem was to rouse the public from its lethargy, make consciences uneasy, and stir genial good will into enthusiasm for social betterment. Their first step was to lay bare the responsibility of the community for needless suffering (Improving City Conditions)”.
The photograph that I feel makes the most powerful social commentary is Street Arabs in Sleeping Quarters by Jacob Riis. I feel this is a powerful photograph because it shows children huddled together sleeping on what looks like a sidewalk. It shows how poor children would have to sleep to stay warm – by using body heat from each other. This photograph plays on the emotions because it uses children as opposed to adults.
The Gilded Age had many photographers but the ones that I feel played to biggest part in social reform were Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine. In my opinion Jacob Riis created the most touching photographs of all. His photographs showed how the poor people lived and how hard their life was. His hope was to show the upper class how these people lived so that hopefully the poor people could receive some sort of financial assistance.
Reference
Gilded Age. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://sites.google.com/site/gildedagehhs13/hine-and-riis