Remembering, Forgetting, and Feeling with Photographs

Abstract

Photo-elicitation is just one of many methods employed in anthropological fieldwork. John Collier introduced this methodology in the mid-1950s. In initial experimentations he juxtaposed the identical interview settings, where, in one, photos were introduced and discussed and, in the other, only verbal questions were asked. He found that looking at photographs while reminiscing sharpened memories, reduced misunderstandings, and created longer and more comprehensive interviews. In 1986, John Collier and Malcolm Collier outlined in detail the importance of this method for anthropologists. In Visual Anthropology: Photography as a Research Method (1986) they argued that sharing and viewing photographs creates an immediate point of access, encourages interviewees to take the lead in enquiries, but also leads to discussions about “unfamiliar, unforeseen environments and subjects.”1 The prevalence of emotional reactions induced by photography was brought forward as an important, yet delicate issue, for researchers. They claimed that when photos were used in the interview process the emotional value and significance was clearly made evident, even though the visual content may not provide personal or subjective insights. In this context, Collier and Collier found that “Photographs are charged with unexpected emotional material that triggers intense feelings.”2 To date, scholars have frequently commented on the ways this method encourages emotional responses.3