Picturing Arizona: The Photographic Record of the 1930s (THE SOUTHWEST CENTER SERIES) - Hardcover

Morrissey, Katherine G.; Jensen, Kirsten

3.4

5 ratings by Goodreads

9780816522712: Picturing Arizona: The Photographic Record of the 1930s (THE SOUTHWEST CENTER SERIES)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0816522715 ISBN 13: 9780816522712

Publisher: University of Arizona Press, 2005

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

As cultural documents, as works of art, and as historical records, photographs of 1930s Arizona tell a remarkable story. They capture enduring visions of the Depression that linger in cultural memory: dust storms, Okies on their way to California, breadlines, and ramshackle tent cities. They also reflect a more particular experience and a unique perspective. This book places the work of local Arizonans alongside that of federal photographers both to illuminate the impact of the Depression on the state’s distinctive racial and natural landscapes and to show the influence of differing cultural agendas on the photographic record. The more than one hundred images—by well-known photographers such as Dorothea Lange and Laura Gilpin as well as by an array of less familiar photographers—represent a variety of purposes and perspectives, from public to personal, political to promotional. Six essays and three photo-essays bring together prominent authorities in history, the arts, and other fields who provide diverse perspectives on this period in Arizona and American history. Viewed together, the words and images capture a Depression-era Arizona bustling with activity as federally funded construction projects and seasonal agricultural jobs brought migrants and newcomers to the state. They convey the celebrations and the struggles of commercial photographers, archaeologists, city folks, farmers, tourists, native peoples and others in these hard times. As the economic strains of the decade reverberated through the state, local photographers documented the lives of Arizona residents—including those frequently overlooked by historians. As this book persuasively shows, photographs can conceal as much as they reveal. A young Mexican American girl stands in front of a backdrop that hides the outhouse behind her, a deeply moving image for what it suggests about the efforts of her family to conceal their economic circumstances. Yet this image is a perfect metaphor for all the photographs in this book: stories remain hidden, but when viewers begin to question what they cannot see, pictures resonate more loudly than ever before. This book is a history of Arizona written from the photographic record, offering a point of view that may differ from the written record. From the images and the insights of the authors, we can gain a new appreciation of how one state—and its indomitable people—weathered our nation’s toughest times.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Katherine G. Morrissey is Associate Professor of History at the University of Arizona and author of Mental Territories: Creating the Inland Empire. Kirsten Jensen is an independent curator and scholar living in Stamford, CT.

Review:

“From the images and insights of the authors, readers will gain a new appreciation of how one state weathered our nation’s toughest times”—Holbrook Tribune-News“The text helps to fill in some of the gaps in our understanding of Arizona’s history”—Tucson Lifestyle“Picturing Arizona is a moving visual experience, perfectly capturing the grit and history of a bygone Arizona era”—The Midwest Book Review“The images of the local landscape, families, archaeology and lifestyles are unforgettable with each turn of the page.”—Arizona Insight“Read the text. Study the pictures. Put the two together, and you’ll gain an appreciation of how Arizona—and its tenacious inhabitants—weathered some of our toughest times.” —Tucson Weekly

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.