Week 2 Discussion Questions. Kaitlyn Bavuso

11.     In comparing Keita and Sidibe’s photography to the photographs used in Willis’s book, the photographers during that time period were very similar. The pattern of using more traditional poses, such as portrait pose was similarity between Keita and several photographers such as Eddie Elcha, and James Van Dee Zee. Most of the photos taken amongst those photographers had very formal backdrops; some almost mimicked a European feeling. In contrast, Sidibe’s photographs seemed to match up or were very similar was photographers such as Arthur Bedou, Cornelius Marion Battey. They seemed to capture moments during that time period. The background scenery was sometimes informal but still has some elements of posing but still was not much like Keita’s formal photographs. There was a photograph on pg 50, where Cornelius Marion Battey took the picture while the group was still moving; there was no set position or having the person remains still for the shot. It was photo to capture the time period.

22.     For the photographers during this time period, it was a struggle for all them. The Europeans had made African American photographs have a very negative reputation and was basically mocking their culture. That being said, the African American community subtly retaliated. Keita and Sidibe’s photos as well as the ones presented in Willis’s book such as James Van Der Zee, and Arthur Bedou, and many other African American photographers made their photographs important to their culture and community. They used European elements, and created their own take basically posing in similar positions, using formal backdrops etc... To prove that their community is just as equal and similar to everyone else’s community.

33.       I feel that the quote on page 38 is basically describing the difficult struggles that African Americans faced because of the stereotype the Europeans placed on them. That being said, a way to prove that are an equal community was the camera. The camera became a central tool for promoting equal opportunity. It was to prove that their community was just as equal as everyone else’s community. It gave an insight into lives of the African American culture and demonstrated they are so much more than the stereotype associated with them.

44.     When browsing through various pictures from the 30’s and 40’s there was a wide variety of photographs that were placed into specific genres. The two genres that stuck out the most was the Black Victim.  In Robert H. McNeill and Charles (Teenie) Harris’s photos, it reminds of me of the civil rights movement, but it also currently reminds me of the crimes between cops and African Americans. The protesting against innocent African American lives. Another genre that I picked up on was Role Model. The photographs taken my Charles (Teenie) Harris were my favorite because he took pictures of how African Americans were equal to other cultures. There were pictures of a Beauty Queen, to an African American baseball player, even to our sixty-three president John F. Kennedy.

55.    The quote she states is basically saying that pictures are worth a thousand words. The way the photographer has their sitter’s pose, or is able to capture “moments” in history, allows for a story to be created, and that the photographer is the narrator. Pictures allow insight into a brief time in history past or current. Photographs to be taken especially before the age digital photography, the moments captured meant something very important and special to the photographer.