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Loading... Images of Conviction: The Construction of Visual Evidenceby Christian Delage
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Eleven case studies spanning the period from the invention of ‘metric’ photography of crime scenes in the nineteenth century to the reconstruction of a drone attack in Pakistan in 2012, offer an ‘archaeological’ analysis of the historical and geopolitical context in which the images appeared, as well as their purpose, the way they were produced and the specific framework of their reception. The nature and the gravity of the facts described mean that no fallacious comparison must be allowed to simplify or reduce the ambit of such images. Coming not long after the invention of the medium, everyday use of photographs in the courtroom made the image’s power as truth an essential tool of conviction in the service of justice. This power as truth has been ardently debated, sometimes legitimately contested and often contradicted. How does the image take shape in truth-seeking scientific and historical discourse? no reviews | add a review
Images of Conviction shows, through 11 cases, how the photographic image is constructed to become evidence.From the scientific methods developed by Alphonse Bertillon, a criminologist who worked for the Pr fecture de Police de Paris in the late 19th century, to the first aerial images of the front taken by the army during World War I, to the shots allowing the victims of Stalin's Great Purge to be identified--for over 150 years photography has served as proof, testifying to crime and thus seeming to deliver truths. In the 11 cases presented here, each one situated within its historical and political context, the question of the status of images is acutely posed. Whether it be the famous shots of the Shroud of Turin, the images of the Nuremberg trial, the skull of Josef Mengele or photos taken with cell phones recording the damage of drone strikes in Afghanistan and Israel, forensic images are now part of any police or political investigation. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)779.9The arts Photography, computer art, cinematography, videography Photographic images Other subjectsLC ClassificationRatingAverage: No ratings.Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |
From the scientific methods developed by Alphonse Bertillon, a criminologist who worked for the Préfecture de Police de Paris in the late 19th century, to the first aerial images of the front taken by the army during World War I, to the shots allowing the victims of Stalin's Great Purge to be identified--for over 150 years photography has served as proof, testifying to crime and thus seeming to deliver truths.
In the 11 cases presented here, each one situated within its historical and political context, the question of the status of images is acutely posed. Whether it be the famous shots of the Shroud of Turin, the images of the Nuremberg trial, the skull of Josef Mengele or photos taken with cell phones recording the damage of drone strikes in Afghanistan and Israel, forensic images are now part of any police or political investigation.