Applied Visual Anthropology in the Progressive Era: The Influence of Lewis Hine's Child Labor Photographs. Issue 3 (8th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cerku, Ashley
• Is Part Of: Visual anthropology. Volume 32:Issue 3/4(2019)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2019-08-08
• Subjects: Visual anthropology -- Periodicals; 306
• DOI: 10.1080/08949468.2019.1637670
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-9468

Abstract

Abstract : This case study discusses how the interpretive photographer, Lewis W. Hine (1874-1940), and his Child Labor series (1908-1918) during the Progressive Era in America (1890-1920) could be considered a precursor to applied visual anthropology. Identifying his work as interpretive of reformers' values rather than documented evidence demonstrates one method of photographic ethnography, which drives the approach of applied visual anthropology. This paper analyzes the successes and limitations of Hine's approach, and will identify examples of his work in order to show how his investigations contributed towards the development of an applied visual anthropological approach.