Source
Why?
There have been two prevailing attitudes toward the proposed conference/symposium dealing with issues of race and diversity in photography:
a) That it is absolutely necessary & b) It is a terrifying prospect.
The first point speaks for itself, and the second point becomes clear when one considers the kerfuffles, misunderstanding and (dare I say it) vitriol that has accompanied much online discussion.
I have been in contact with some, but by no means all, people who could contribute to an extended dialogue. These include Amy Stein, Ben Chesterton, Colin Pantall, Daniel Cuthbert, Daryl Lang, Jean-Sebastien Boncy, Joerg Colberg, John Edwin Mason, Mark Page, Matt Lutton, Michael Shaw, M. Scott Brauer, Nathalie Belayche, Qiana Mestrich and Stan Banos. They have been very generous in response.
Originally, I suggested mixing things up by means of an in-person meet. This was intended to directly address the inadequacies of online discussion. However, when Qiana Mestrich of Dodge & Burn alerted us to SPE‘s conference in March, 2010: “Facing Diversity: Leveling the Playing Field in the Photographic Arts” it was clear that we may just end up replicating (on a smaller scale) SPE’s efforts.
The early feeling was that to piggyback on the back of an existing photography festival could leverage most involvement and impact. Boncy has had good feedback from Houston Fotofest and Lang believes that PDN would want to collaborate and lend a hand for an event at New York Photo Festival. These are very, very encouraging early signs.
In terms of organisation, these prospects are a far cry from the normal activities bloggers. Bearing in mind that this idea was conceived to challenge the tried and tired modes of photography blog discourse, it is difficult to conceive of good reasons to forsake our collective blogging strengths (wide-reaching audiences, maximum engagement, a breadth of coverage and investigation and first rate methods).
We haven’t abandoned a desire for a face-to-face meet and indeed we’ll continue to lobby established photography festivals and industry expos for the inclusion of extended discussions about race and diversity.
But, we are aware of our strengths. Simply put; a focused and concerted online effort will impact and forward dialogue more than a bunch of bloggers gathering in a single room could.
Early plans
This will be an Online Symposium. I would like see a concerted effort among photobloggers: I offer an open invitation to all those who wish to get involved.
The online symposium will look something like this:
– Occurring mid/late spring 2010
– A one week long, coordinated series of photo-features, interviews, op-eds, inquiries and articles.
– All written works will aim to compliment and build upon one another, not repeat or needlessly criticise.
– All written works will be subject to peer-review (a grand term for “read by another blogger”) prior to publication.
– It will incorporate the widest mix of experiences in the industry as possible. Discussion may vary from academic speculations on representations to the everyday experience of the working photographer.
Aims
– To communicate the wide experiences, attitudes, facts and myths in photography as they relate to race and diversity.
– To achieve respect and understanding among photographers, contributors and readers.
– To test the reach and strength of blog-networks as they relate to photography.
– To be progressive instead of reactive in our tone and objectives.
– To leave a legacy and record of this community action that will be of use and reference for continued learning.
What Should You D0?
– Please think seriously about your experience and knowledge and if you’d like to share that as part of this community project.
– Spread the word. If you don’t wish to get involved, perhaps you know someone who would have a valuable contribution?
– Share your ideas, initially through comments below, or directly with me [prisonphotography at gmail point com] and later on a devoted website.
Thanks! Please don’t hesitate to be in touch/throw ideas about. The projects’ outcomes depend on the quality and commitment of your input.
Prison Photography 
14 comments
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October 20, 2009 at 2:09 pm
duckrabbit
Important stuff.
October 20, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Stan B.
Thanks for this initial input, Pete. This is some pretty impressive shit! Looking forward to participating, and please let me know what I can do in specific to help organize, research, whatever… One thing that was made abundantly clear in the last go around was that for certain claims to hold water, the contextual history needs to be presented and brought to light since many really have no clue as to the existence and relevance of the racial, historical and cultural backgrounds behind certain critical arguments.
This endeavor really does offer an opportunity to advance this discussion.
October 20, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Race, Diversity, Photography: Online Symposium « Prison Photography | The Click
[…] Race, Diversity, Photography: Online Symposium « Prison Photography: There have been two prevailing attitudes toward the proposed conference/symposium dealing with […]
October 20, 2009 at 4:50 pm
petebrook
Stan
I am counting on your input, given that you’re one of the loudest voices! I am encouraging everyone to contribute in an area that feel passionate about or have direct experience in.
The recent actions of French Vogue (which wasn’t an isolated incident for Steven Klein – http://www.pdnpulse.com/2009/10/whats-up-with-steven-klein-and-blackface.html) attest to how we understand history differently and how we respond differently to visual mnemonics. France – and Europe – did not have the same racist and belittling traveling minstrel acts as America. Not that this is an excuse for Klein, but it is a factor in any discussion certainly.
I would encourage you to look at the history of photographic representations in America. There’s plenty of material to look at. bell hooks has written widely about black identity – and particularly black womens’ identity – under attack from multiple demographics of society. Lynching Photography has been well surveyed recently: http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/
I think you could survey the past photo-practices, illustrate your point with specific reference and really strengthen and consolidate your position. This would be a great comtribution. You could do it in a single post or you could break it into chronological or geographical locations. AND, it could all be housed on Reciprocity Failure.
I’d love to see a series of posts that built on one another!
If you need any help locating archives, just let me know.
October 20, 2009 at 6:07 pm
John Edwin Mason
Pete, I like the idea quite a bit. An online symposium has the potential to reach many more people than a panel discussion or three at a photo festival. I’m all for meeting in person, at some point, for the reasons you suggest. But online is a terrific first step.
You and Stan are right that some history is in order. Perhaps people really aren’t conscious of the ways in which people of color (and women, the poor, and ethnic minorities) have been stereotyped in photos and images. As you know, this is part of the context in which contemporary images are received and understood by viewers.
I’ve been thinking that my own contribution to the symposium ought to have a historical element. (After all, teaching and writing history is how I earn my living.)
In the meantime, here’s another resource: The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, curated by David Pilgrim, at Ferris State University. It has, among other things, a fantastic (literally) online collection of images from the 19th and 20th centuries: http://www.ferris.edu/JIMCROW/
October 20, 2009 at 6:24 pm
petebrook
Thank you John. That site is an eye-opener. Now I consider my upbringing a distance from the concerns of the US civil rights era and the preceding state-sanctioned racism (I was born 1980) but growing up our jam-jars, namely Robinson’s Jam had the golliwog caricature.
I was also unaware of the “Tragic Mulatto Myth”: http://www.ferris.edu/JIMCROW/mulatto/more/ These gaps in knowledge are typical of all persons and only dialogue can correct that.
It would be great to draw on your historical knowledge for the symposium. I have always been fascinated by the contradictions in experience for famous black musicians – in that they were publicly celebrated for their art, but never recognised with the same rights. How did they do financially from their work? I know you look at the photographic records form those eras.
October 20, 2009 at 6:45 pm
John Edwin Mason
@petebrook
“That site is an eye-opener.”
Yep. Those 19th and 20th century images are still with us–that is, they’re still part of our visual culture. They may be 50, 100, even 200 years old, but they can be (and are) continually updated.
Just google, say, “Obama watermelon” or “Obama racist caricature” to see what I mean.
October 20, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Stan Banos
John, being that you’re the professional here- no problem having you take point on the historical presentation. I think heads, as well as opinions, may turn when actually visualizing some of the imagery we’re mentally referencing. And no point my trying to piece something together, if you already have it fleshed out.
Fortunately, there is enough time here for everyone to both cooperate and find there own niche…
October 21, 2009 at 12:07 am
Race, Diversity, Photography: Online Symposium | Verbal Hmmm.
[…] Brook has come up with a pretty fantastic idea: An online symposium looking at race, diversity and […]
October 24, 2009 at 2:00 am
Update: conversation on race, diversity, and photography | dvafoto
[…] The first point speaks for itself, and the second point becomes clear when one considers the kerfuffles, misunderstanding and (dare I say it) vitriol that has accompanied much online discussion.” -Prison Photography […]
October 25, 2009 at 9:39 am
Aviva Schultz
Pete,
Fascinating idea! I’d love to be involved. I’ve done a lot of work on both still photographic work and its contribution to (cultural) production/ productivity and (dis)ability, as well as, cinematic imagery and marketing and the same… The link that you sent me made me think about possible connections between both the media glut and images/perceptions of disability and, also made me think about social media and disability.
Certainly, another fruitful area of exploration could be the multi-layered criminalization of disabled people within the prison system. Exiting stuff, count me in for the symposium and any resulting events. Lets be in touch soon.
Best,
Aviva
October 25, 2009 at 9:42 am
petebrook
Can’t wait to read/see your work, Aviva. Thanks for getting on board!
November 29, 2009 at 9:05 am
Race, Diversity, Photography: Online Symposium | duckrabbit - we produce beautifully crafted multimedia
[…] Ok, so anybody reading any of the blogs with which duckrabbit feels an affinity will know that Pete Brook, of prison photography fame, got fed up with all the daft debate surrounding photography and diversity and has decided to do […]
March 3, 2011 at 5:30 am
OPENEYEIMAGE
POGUS CAESAR LAUNCHES SPARKBROOK PRIDE
Birmingham-based photographer Pogus Caesar has a new book coming out, specially commissioned by Be Birmingham and published by Punch and OOM Gallery Archive.
‘Sparkbrook Pride’ consists of 70 black-and-white photos of residents of Sparkbrook, Birmingham – where Pogus grew up – all taken with his trademark Canon Sureshot camera.
The book also has a foreword written by Benjamin Zephaniah and an introduction by Paris-based photographer Nigel Dickinson. In the foreword Zephaniah says “I love the ‘rawness’ of these photos, they have a sense of place, yet nothing is staged, and the only information Pogus gives us about those featured is how they define themselves, nothing more. We need no more. So people – it is down to us to piece together the rest of this multicultural puzzle”.
Last Autumn Pogus visited Sparkbrook several times, and the striking images in ‘Sparkbrook Pride’ are the result. Documenting the diverse individuals who live and work in the area, the book features both the long-standing residents from the West Indies, Ireland, India and Pakistan and the more recent additions to the community from Somalia, Sudan, Malawi and Afghanistan, celebrating the rich cultural mix that defines the area.
Be Birmingham, in association with Punch and OOM Gallery Archive, will launch Sparkbrook Pride in Spring 2011.
Book details. Paperback, perfect bound, 160 pages, 70 black and white photographs, 11.6 x 8.2 x 0.8 inches. ISBN: 978-0-9566741-1-1