
150 years of American photography come alive in this exciting new book, placing it in its cultural context for the first time. Orvell examines this fascinating subject through a wide range of well known and less-well known images. He ranges from portraiture and landscape photography, family albums and memory, and analyses the particularly 'American' way in which American photographers have viewed the world around them.Orvell combines a clear overview of the changing nature of photographic thinking and practice in this period with an exploration of key concepts. The result is the first coherent history of American photography, which examines issues such as the nature of photographic exploitation, experimental techniques, the power of the photograph to shock, and whether we should subscribe to the notion of a visual history.
This work investigates how American photography has evolved over 150 years and whether a distinct national identity can be identified within the visual history of the medium. Miles Orvell, a scholar of American culture, utilizes a comprehensive survey of both iconic and obscure imagery to construct a framework that links photographic practice to broader social and cultural shifts. He argues that the American perspective on the world is uniquely reflected in the technical and thematic choices made by photographers throughout the nation's history.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and academics frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the intersection of American cultural history and visual media. Readers often note the clarity of the prose, which makes complex art historical concepts accessible to students and general enthusiasts alike.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
2003-07-10
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192842714
ISBN-13:
9780192842718
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