Open AccessReading National Geographic, Catherine A. Lutz and Jane L. Collins, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1993
Author(s) -
Pamela R. Willoughby
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
bulletin of the history of archaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2047-6930
pISSN - 1062-4740
DOI - 10.5334/bha.04204
Subject(s) - reading (process) , context (archaeology) , meaning (existential) , suspect , sociology , field (mathematics) , history , enculturation , media studies , anthropology , archaeology , psychology , political science , law , mathematics , criminology , pure mathematics , psychotherapist
As I write this, I have just received an advertisement from theNational Geographic Society, saying that as a member, I have the opportunity to be oneof the fIrst to purchase a volume on the greatest photographs ever published in theNational Geographic. Like many others, especially anthropologists (I suspect), I grew upreading National Geographic, had access to,National Geographic publications, andprobably got my fIrst images of different cultures and peoples from the magazine. Howaccurate a picture do we get? What does it attempt to portray and why? The burgeoningfield of visual anthropology examines images and films and attempts to under stand themwithin their social context. How do photographs communicate or evoke ideas? What is thesocial framework in which they are produced-"the historical and cultural context thatgives the photograph and its elements their meaning and significance"? What is the roleof such images in our society, and do they play a major role inenculturation