The Photography Reader: History and Theory

by Liz Wells (Editor)

Following on from its hugely successful first edition, The Photography History and Theory provides deeper insight into the critical discussions around photography – its production, its uses and its effects. Presenting both the historical ideas and the continuing theoretical debates within photography and photographic study, this second edition contains essays by photographers including Edward Weston and László Moholy-Nagy, and key thinkers such as Walter Benjamin, Roland Barthes and Susan Sontag. Along with its companion text – The Photography Cultures Representation, Agency and Identity – this is the most comprehensive introduction to photography and photographic criticism. This new edition • Over 50 additional photographs • New essays from photographers and academics • Revised introductions, setting ideas and debates in their historical and theoretical context • Sections on Art photography, Documentary and Photomedia. Includes essays by : Jan Baetens, Roland Barthes, Geoffrey Batchen, David Bate, André Bazin, Walter Benjamin, Lynn Berger, Matthew Biro, Osip Brik, Victor Burgin, Hubert Damisch, Edmundo Desnoes, Umberto Eco, Elizabeth Edwards, Steve Edwards, Andy Grundberg, Lisa Henderson, Estelle Jussim, Sarah Kember, Siegfried Kracauer, Rosalind Krauss, Martin Lister, Lev Manovich, Christian Metz, W. J. T. Mitchell, Tina Modotti, László Moholy-Nagy, Wright Morris, Darren Newbury, Daniel Palmer, Marjorie Perloff, Fred Ritchin, Martha Rosler, Steven Skopik, Abigail Solomon-Godeau, Susan Sontag, Lucy Soutter, John Szarkowski, John Tagg, Hilde Van Gelder, Ian Walker, Liz Wells, Edward Weston, Peter Wollen.

Genres: Photography, Art, Theory, Nonfiction, Essays, Education, Art and Photography

558 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[amin ghazaei]

این کتاب مجموعه مقالاتی است درباره عکاسی از افراد مختلف. یک مقاله از این کتاب مفصل را می توانید در آرت کالت 16 پیدا کنید. شاید بازهم از این کتاب مقاله ای چاپ کردم.
در هر حال کتاب معروفی است. عکس روی جلد خود مولف و جمع آورنده است.

[Ray Dunsmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

No photograph actually gives you the full, objective truth. Yes, the method to produce them is a direct, scientific method to reproduce sight. However, once you've factored in the viewpoint (metaphorically and literally) of the person behind the camera and the reasons they've framed the photo that specific way, cropped it that way, displayed it and described it that way, subjectivity reigns. The traditional view of the photograph as a mimic that faithfully transcribes reality without any filter is naive at best. Even scientific photographs are trying to communicate an idea (e.g. "This is what that looks like," or "This is how that is done."). And though the audience is free to interpret any photo in any way, context will ultimately sway most one way or the other. Context (and the control of it) is everything.

Congratulations, I just saved you 450 pages of plodding academic essays. The ideas are fascinating and any beginning student of photography would do well to understand them as thoroughly as they can, but most of this - to me - felt like page after page of repeating the obvious. The only truly interesting essays come in the last three chapters. The majority beforehand were an exercise in patience and willpower.

[Samuel A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

incredible collection of essays by both theorists & photographers, highly recommend for everyone who wants to understand a bit more about photography. maybe not for regular reading, pick & choose your essays, my faves include:
photography within the humanities - susan sontag
access and consent in public photography - lisa henderson
re-reading edward weston: feminism, photography and psychoanalysis - roberta mcgrath

[Georgina Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a brilliant introduction to key writings on and considerations around Photography. I've had this on my shelf for 10+ years now, since I did my degree and keep dipping back into it. Thank you @Liz Wells

[Hamish Scott-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading along with Sontag, Barthes and Shore for anyone looking to develope their criticality in 2d visual photographic media.
You might also want to research and read Walter Benjamin's 'Concept of the Image'

[Rory Kurzenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Photographers and art theorists were so goddamn annoying in the 18th and early 19th centuries like holy shit. It’s not that deep painting and photography can in fact coexist without one minimizing the other

[Cassey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of articles for those with a mild interest in photographic theory.

[David Rothwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book which was actually on my to-read list during my time at University. The purpose of. the book is to help students think critically about images, photography, the viewer as an objective and subjective theoretical thinker. I enjoyed reading the essays of John Tagg and Martha Rossler. This book is a must if you're thinking about getting into the history of photography, photographic art and critical thinking.

[Aelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good for bachelor's level. But please don't get attracted with names like Eco or Barthes (Ecos' essay is just 2 pages long and Barthes's extracts from Camera Lucida are couple of pages too).
The book is appropriate for photography students, whereas for other interested readers it would be better to get the originals of those essays (condensed) in this reader.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some very intense essays. Some of them are incredibly academic and intellectual and take a lot of focus to read. Even with the difficulty there is a lot of really good stuff in here for any one interested in photography past it being a hobbie.

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have an interest in photo history, I highly recommend this book. It's a collection of readings by or on historical figures in photography such as Susan Sontag, Roland Barthes, Umberto Eco, and many others.

[Jamie]

I read the essays in this occassionally. Good for increasing your literacy on issues and theory surrounding photography.

[Johnny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to stop reading it when I got to the marxist-feminist re-evaluation of that noted mysoginist Edward Weston. And how about the typos. Seriously, did anybody proof this before it went to print?

[Peyman Gh · Rating 5 out of 5]

با امین قضایی دارم ترجمه اش میکنم که امین این روزها نیست و من هم کار رو ول کردم. یه نمونه از مقاله های این کتاب تو آرت کالت شانزدهم چاپ شده. کتاب بسیار با ارزشیه

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for teaching contemporary photo theory. Excellent book.

[Casey Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good Essays on photography theory. Good source book to have on the shelf.

[Cecelia]

I had to read it for a class