A More Perfect Likeness: Frederick Douglass and the Image of the Nation was presented by Laura Wexler, Professor of American Studies, Women's Gender, & Sexuality Studies, Yale University on Wednesday, September 22, 2010.
What did the invention of photography mean to a slave? What did the invention of photography mean to a freedman or woman? How many people who have been slaves have written a theory of photography? Frederick Douglass is one of those rare individuals. Scholars have recently begun to examine his opinions, but have not really looked at all the manuscript material. In this Brown Bag talk which was open to the public, Professor Laura Wexler discussed her recent research comparing Douglass' earlier (1861) lecture on photography, "Pictures and Progress," with his later (1865) revision of that same lecture. This lecture was part of the Gilder Lehrman Center Brown Bag Lunch Series.
What a fascinating opportunity this was to entertain the imagination in the context of locating our progress as a nation through one of the intellectual giants of this young nation.To have theorized about this new technology of photography emerging during the age of Douglass and its hopeful ramifications for real democracy and freedom for all Americans truly challenges us all to seize the time in 2010.
We must improve upon this still imperfect democratic experiment. Who knows what Douglas would say about the tea baggers and their desire to take back America . Who know what Douglas would have said about the Birth of the Nation blockbuster movie which was so popular for it's take back America themes which glorified the resurrection of the KKK.
What would Douglas have to say about the Bull Connor fire hosed photographic images of Americans on the TV screen trying to no more than Americans and being beaten, killed and hosed in the process?
Who knows what Douglas would have to say about Stepin Fetchit, Amos and Andy,Flip Wilson and others?
Intellectual conjecture at best perhaps. But as we witness this new personal imaging technology of the new media revolution are we becoming equally transcendental and blinded by our rose colored 3D glasses? Maybe I should ask Glen Beck?
http://www.yale.edu/glc/index.htm
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