Photo Archives V: The Paradigm of Objectivity

Photographic reproductions of works of art and other research objects have long been considered neutral documents capable of supporting the research methodologies of art history and related disciplines. The introduction of digital imaging saw the adoption of the same model, in that digital copies are presumed closer to the original photograph. Today, the neutrality of photography has been deconstructed; nevertheless, the rhetoric of objectivity continues to shape the uses of analog and digital photographs, which are deemed "evidence," even if one is aware of the possibility of technical manipulation. Similarly, there is little awareness that archives are far from neutral guardians of memory. This symposium explores the relationship among photographic reproduction technologies, archival practices, and concepts of objectivity, with an interdisciplinary outlook and a focus on art history.

Photo Archives is an open series of international scholarly activities dedicated to the interaction between photographic archives, photography, and academic disciplines.