Why the Proliferation of Amateur Photography is Good for Self-Representation
Session Type
Traditional Paper Presentation
Research Project Abstract
This paper examines how mobile technologies are impacting the practice of photography. Social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook have become normal platforms for editing and sharing pictures, and camera-equipped cell phones have changed the experience of taking photos, creating access to an unprecedented number of photographers. While some professional and amateur photographers disparage these media for devaluing photos, anthropologists see it as a tool for self-expression. The author will focus on amateur photography as self-ethnography, especially in marginalized populations, to demonstrate the value of this proliferation.
Session Number
RS5
Location
Weyerhaeuser 203
Abstract Number
RS5-b
Why the Proliferation of Amateur Photography is Good for Self-Representation
Weyerhaeuser 203
This paper examines how mobile technologies are impacting the practice of photography. Social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook have become normal platforms for editing and sharing pictures, and camera-equipped cell phones have changed the experience of taking photos, creating access to an unprecedented number of photographers. While some professional and amateur photographers disparage these media for devaluing photos, anthropologists see it as a tool for self-expression. The author will focus on amateur photography as self-ethnography, especially in marginalized populations, to demonstrate the value of this proliferation.
