ABSTRACT

Looking beyond the impact photographs have on the perpetuation and expression of social norms and stereotypes, and the influence of the act of taking a photograph, this new collection brings together international scholars to examine the camera itself as an actor. 

Bringing the camera back into view, this volume furthers our understanding of how, and in what ways, imaging technology shapes us, our lives, and the representations out of which we fashion knowledge, base our judgments and ultimately act. Through a broad range of case studies, the authors in this collection make the convincing claim that the camera is much more than a mechanical device brought to life by the photographer. 

This book will be of interest to scholars in photography, visual culture, anthropology and the history of photography.

chapter 1|14 pages

Introduction

part I|37 pages

The millennium camera

chapter 3|23 pages

The camera–body’s V

A media archaeology of tiny viewfinderless cameras as technologies of action

part II|50 pages

Making the camera

chapter 4|21 pages

A wooden box, tripod and cloth

The role of alaminüt photography in the making of modern Turkey

chapter 5|25 pages

“Buy film not megapixels”

The role of analogue cameras in the rematerialization of photography and the configuration of resistant amateurism

part III|48 pages

The Leica tattoo

chapter 6|24 pages

The camera as a device for sociality

Photography and young male adults with autism spectrum condition

chapter 7|22 pages

Becoming the camera

Constructing RoboCops with body-worn video