looking for your opinion...

[Georg R. Baumann]

Upfront, I do not know how to post a poll here, so I just post the question

Do you feel that photographers have a duty to engage on social-political issues in their function as artists?

Yes? No?

Let me outline the above question more specific.

1. Photographers as artists

Here I mean particularly those with exhibitions but also other forms of showing their work, such as online, or in print press etc.

2. Engage on social-political issues

Here I mean that all forms possible, whether in their artwork, discussions whatever you can think of. To a degree, I would exclude documentary as this is already engaged, also social event and product focussed photography, as this is mostly dominated by strict commercial aspects.

The reason I wonder about this is because I observe a complete lack of discussion on actual developments in many photography related fora internationally. I found this to be different in music production/ performance related fora that I follow.

Photography essentially being a language, I am curious how you see this....

 

[Asher Kelman]

Georg,

Mostly folk are pointing the camera for personal, social or commercial needs or the fun and experience of "Art".

I have always thought that we should all also consider the camera as a "lantern" to illuminate, reveal and expose, corners of our society and planet we need to know about to make good policy. If just one in fifty did this, we'd have more than enough dialog!

Asher

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Georg,

Upfront, I do not know how to post a poll here, so I just post the question

Do you feel that photographers have a duty to engage on social-political issues in their function as artists?

Yes? No?

I do not propose an answer, but I suggest a structure in which we might reflect on this. It is in two layers (which I see in rather the opposite order suggested by the question as you pose it):

1. Do citizens have a duty to engage on social-political issues?

2. Should a citizen who engages in social-political issues, who has a communication craft or skill (such as photography, painting, music composition, music performance, stage or film acting or direction, journalistic writing, writing letters for publication, public speaking, writing of analytical essays, etc.) use that skill as a tool of their engagement?

Then follows from [2], "And subject to what guidelines as to time, place, nature, etc.?

I am engaged in several "societal" issues now, and I use my skills in photography and writing as tools of that engagement. But I choose thoughtfully the "battles I choose to join", and what projectiles to launch thereinto - always (mostly?) asking, "If this has the effect I seek, what will that be - and is there a reasonable chance this will bring it about".

So to me, the question is not, "should a carpenter help build a house for the homeless (because he is a carpenter)", but rather, "should a citizen (if he can), help build a house for the homeless" - and being a carpenter, it seems as if he can.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Murray Foote]

Hi Georg

I believe that we have a moral obligation to engage in social-political issues as citizens in a democracy or even if we aspire to live in a society that values equity. Photography can be a powerful and subliminal method of doing this and therefore presenting images to this end is highly desirable.

There is also the question of just what is political. Almost all landscapes have been affected by human activity, direct or indirect, recently or over thousands of years. Humanity is at serious risk of degrading the planet or has already done so. So almost any landscape can probably be construed as political, whether the author intended this or not.

Effectiveness of communication may be an issue, too. Humour and thoughtfulness are helpful but polemical attitudes can be counter-productive. So while I am broadly inclined to say “Yes”, I’m not sure that all photographers should have such a duty in their photography rather than in their living.

Regards,
Murray

 

[Jim Galli]

Yes, I engage, but not perhaps in a way you've thought of or covered.

Photography is not the bottom of where my inner joy comes from.

Art is not the bottom of where my inner joy comes from.

Politics and world concerns are not the bottom of where my inner joy comes from.

I am a horse trader. Just wired that way. If you read the signature line at the bottom of every post I make, and if you do a google search to find out what's being said there and who said it and what it's about, you will discover the 'horse trade' that's at the bottom of my joy.

So, in a way, every time I post here or at any of the other forums, I'm quietly making a statement about the most important effort in the world. Actually an effort that will outlast the world.

 

[Jerome Marot]

Do you feel that photographers have a duty to engage on social-political issues in their function as artists?

Yes? No?

No.

You will find countless artists who did not engage on social or political issues.

 

[Georg R. Baumann]

Thanks to all who shared their opinion, much appreciated.

Best
Georg