The Image of Whiteness: Contemporary Photography and Racialization

by Daniel C. Blight (Editor), David R. Roediger (Contributor), George Yancy (Contributor)

From the advent of early colonial photography in the 19th century to contemporary “white savior” social-media images, photography continues to play an integral role in the maintenance of white sovereignty. As various scholars have shown, the technology of the camera is not innocent, and nor are the images it produces.

In this way, the invention and continuance of the “white race” is not just a political, social and legal phenomenon, it is also a complexly visual one. In a time of revivified fascisms, from Donald Trump to Tommy Robinson, we must attempt to locate the image of whiteness anew, so that we can better understand its nonsensical construction. What does whiteness look like, and how might we begin to trace an anti-racist history of artistic resistance that works against it?

The Image of Whiteness seeks to introduce its reader to some important extracts from the troubling story of whiteness, to describe its falsehoods, its paradoxes and its oppressive nature, and to highlight some of the crucial work photographic artists have done to subvert and critique its image.

Edited by writer and photography scholar Daniel C. Blight, The Image of Whiteness includes the work of artists Abdul Abdullah, Agata Madejska, Broomberg & Chanarin, Buck Ellison, John Lucas & Claudia Rankine, David Birkin, Hank Willis Thomas, Kajal Nisha Patel, Michelle Dizon & Viet Le, Nancy Burson, Nate Lewis, Libita Clayton, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Richard Misrach, Sophie Gabrielle, Stacy Kranitz and Stanley Wolukau-Wanambwa.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Race

203 pages, Hardcover

First published September 17, 2019

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whiteness is often looked at, but seldom seen.

"Whiteness is not something I would limit to white people." —CR

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the real strength of this book isn't in the section of photographs, which is well curated don't get me wrong, but in the texts and interviews. The book features work by Claudia Rankine, done in collaboration with her husband, about blondness; specifically Black women who dye their hair blond, which she discusses in her book Just Us, and I feel like this collection is a great extension of the conversation started there. Whiteness isn't a blank slate, or the default and needs to be acknowledged as an idea that is part of but also outside of white people. The introduction by Daniel C. Blight is a great rumination on this and his interviews in the back are similarly challenging and rewarding, especially the closing one with George Yancey.

I listened to In A Few Places Along The River by Abul Mogard and Cracks by Bendik Giske while reading / loking at this.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several artist statements and philosophical essays accompany the images from the artists that focus on whiteness in their art, how experiencing racism and xenophobia formed their artistic vision, expressing in their art how the system of whiteness is used as a governing orientation and a value system, legitimizing violence against people who deviate from that system regardless of ethnic, gender, or class identity, because the overarching powers seek to preserve whiteness as the dominant structure, even over people who deem themselves white.

Provocative art is good art. This is why the power structure seeks to kill funding for arts. Any challenge to their status is a challenge to their wealth. Art is resistance.