From Learning to Look to Grasping the Gaze: The Political Management of Popular Photography in Weimar Germany (1919–1933)
Abstract
The study of amateur photography in Weimar Germany (1919–1933) sheds light on the impact that the period's characteristic aesthetic approaches and technical advancements had on civil society, as well as on the persistent attempt to educate the public in order to harness this activity for vested interests. Given the scarcity of research addressing this latter aspect, this article presents a specific, comparative analysis of ideas originating from photography organizations and publications aimed at amateurs –with particular emphasis on those promoted by the two major left-wing political parties– and examines their respective implementation models. This approach reveals the prevailing general conception of amateur photography, the mechanisms used to bring it under control, and the overall outcomes of these efforts. Ultimately, the analysis fosters a better understanding of the subsequent attempt to enlist amateur photography in the service of ideas and projects that were openly harmful.
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