Photography: A Cultural History

by Mary Warner Marien

For one or two semester courses in the History of Photography. Mary Warner Marien has constructed a richer and more kaleidoscopic account of the history of photography than has previously been available. Her comprehensive survey shows compellingly how photography has sharpened, if not altered forever, our perception of the world. The book was written to introduce students to photography. It does not require that students possess any technical know-how and can be taught without referring to techniques in photography. Incorporating the latest research and international uses of photography, the text surveys the history of photography in such a way that students can gauge the medium's long-term multifold developments and see the historical and intellectual contexts in which photographers lived and worked. It also provides a unique focus on contemporary photo-based work and electronic media.

Genres: Photography, History, Art, Art History, Nonfiction, School, Textbooks

560 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2002

Reviews

[julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is dense with information and is especially good on the very early days of photography. there is less emphasis on more recent photographs and their impact on culture...even the Dorthea Lange, Walker Evans era is, for me touched too lightly upon. I also think there isn't enough on the impact of magazines like Life and National Geographic on the construction of cultural consciousness. But in all, a book that warrants endless perusing. I'm sad to have to return it to the library.

[jebrahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent textbook!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, sweeping, rigorous history and analysis of photography and its cultural evolution. Academic in the best way: traces how ideas and styles formed, interacted, and influenced each other and the culture at large. Tries to answer: How have we used photography and, as importantly, how has it shaped us?

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't been in school for photography in 15 years and recently was given several boxes of my college photo professor's books so I read this textbook over a couple months last year. An overview of not just the history of photography, but its role in society, its context, and how it communicates with the world at large. Tons of niche, smaller, and unexpected moments in the medium and not just "the greats". Definitely keeping this around for reference.

[Teri Temme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covers a lot in a relatively interesting way. Great textbook.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad textbook, it's good because it has a lot of photo's in it and they are colored so that's nice and it's much easier to get an idea of what the author is saying when there is actually something to go on. It's quite easy to read as well and I didn't find that I had to re-read it a ton of times to understand what Marien was getting at which made it quite easy to study from as well. My only real problem with it was I found it jumped around far too much for my liking and I disliked the artist profiles that were randomly stuck in the text because you'd begin reading a sentence and then all of a sudden one of those would be there. Overall it's a good textbook. A bit too expensive though. I have issues paying $107 for something I'm gonna highlight in.

[s2artM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had become an excellent resource in my teaching practice. Very easy to read, very comprehensive in its coverage of the early years of photography.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazingly comprehensive with many illustrations nicely reproduced, some strikingly beautiful. Writing is blandly text-book style.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still a great book for reference purposes. Utilised this for three years through university and it was able to help me argue points and support ideas.