Hands and Feet: Photojournalism, the Fragmented Body Politic and Collective Memory

Abstract

You cannot take a photograph of the past. This simple fact alters the relationship between journalism and collective memory. Journalism may be the ‘first draft of history,’ but others will be written as well, and the loss of immediacy may be of little consequence in distinguishing between earlier and later written accounts. As additional reports are collated, ‘smoke everywhere’ may become ‘smoke filled the street for half a block.’ Accuracy can improve and additional actors and perspectives can become part of the story.