American Photography

• "pictures are more important that all the other stuff"
• some pics are great emotional memories, others are proof of records - that someone did something
• photos are the periphery of our lives that we take for granted
• Brownie Cameras - sold for $1; over a quarter million sold in the first year
• postcards were a way of covering virtually everything because people could send them to people
• National Geographic began color photography
• Edward Curtis - 20 books of native Americans
• people asked: Where is the art in pressing a button?
• they said it should be recognized as another branch of art
• people altered their photos to make them look like real art; "brush strokes"
• people were moved and outraged by child labor photos
• straight photography - faced reality; didn't manipulate shots in the dark room
• WWI - camera became an important weapon of war for propaganda
• Interstated Daily News - sold itself on the basis of pictures