Module 4, Post 4

Jolene Rickard, of Cornell University (and a Native American artist), asked a simple question: “The practice of looking at things to remember is our way. In the past it served the truth. Whose “truth” do we observe when we look at photographs?” She is not the first person to ask this phenomenological question, but in light of Native American representation it is a very poignant question to be asking.

In light of her question I leave you with two links:

http://www.aaronhuey.com/#/national-geographic-magazine—pine-ridge/Press_NG_cover

(wait for the pictures to load at the bottom)…

http://www.spiritwrestler.com/catalog/index.php?artists_id=58

Jane Ash Poitras uses photographs from Edwar Curtis’ massive volume (which has been criticized for being racist and objectifying Native Americans), some photographs (actually many) are from nations not her own.

Whose “truth” do we believe?