In Focus: Protest
Social Struggles in the US Captured On Film
The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is presenting an exhibition titled In Focus: Protest, from June 29 through October 10, 2021. The exhibition features photographs taken during times of social struggle in the United States, drawing attention to the importance of protest photographs in the way we view and understand American life and history.
The works on display show scenes from different periods of social struggle in America, including the Selma March (led by Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma, Alabama, to the state’s capital of Montgomery), Malcolm X speaking at a rally in Harlem, an image of Robert F. Kennedy and César Chávez, or a Vietnam Pro Demonstration, to name a few. On view are photographs by some of America’s most renowned artists, such as Dorothea Lange (American, 1895–1965), Robert Mapplethorpe (American, 1946-1989), and cinematographer and artist John Simmons (American, born 1950). Also on view are incredible images by photographers Robert Flora (American, 1929-1986), William James Warren (American, born 1942), An-My Lê (American, born 1960), and a fairly recent 2020 photograph by Kris Graves (American, born 1982).
Mazie Harris, assistant curator of photographs at the Museum, has stated that “In Focus: Protest reminds us of the ability of photographs to both document and propel action. With this exhibition we aim to give visitors a place to think about some of the ways that photographers have brought attention to efforts to address and rectify injustice.”
Protest photography has been a controversial topic for as long as it has existed. While it is an excellent way to record an important event that will likely go down in history, it is also easy to decide to do it for the wrong reasons. Especially today, with social media as present in our lives as ever, it is of extreme importance to know how to take protest photos safely and responsibly, and not as a means to chase likes or to grow one’s internet presence. It is easy to forget that each person taking part in a demonstration has a right to their own privacy, and in crowded settings asking for permission to use one’s image is hard. An example of this were the recent Black Lives Matter protests that took place in the summer of 2020, where imagery and social media were acting as both allies and enemies to the cause. It is undeniable that the role of the protest photographer is an extremely important one, one that comes with an immense amount of responsibility. Although most of the photographs featured in In Focus: Protest are from over fifty years ago and taken on film, more contemporary works are also represented, such as 2020 prints by John Simmons and Kris Graves.
In Focus: Protest, curated by Mazie Harris, is worth a visit for the purpose of exploring the ways in which protest photography has impacted and also been extremely beneficial to our understanding of American society and life. The show is on view at The J. Paul Getty Museum through October 10, 2021.
