Australian Women’s Historical Photography: Other Times, Other Views

Australian Womens Historical Photography: Other Times, Other Views explores the photographs of six talented women photographers against the historical backdrop of settler violence, the First Women's Movement, the Great War, Australia's imperial occupation of New Guinea, and debates about photography's status as an art form. The book aims to rectify the downplaying of women's works in existing accounts of Australian cultural history and demonstrates why amateur works are equally important to understanding the past. It draws on scholarship from various disciplines to create an interdisciplinary critical framework that will interest academic and archival researchers. The book also responds to the lack of visibility of Australian realist, documentary, and commercial women's works, particularly those of the earliest Indigenous women photographers and those who traveled and made photographs abroad.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 138 pages
Publication date: 02 July 2024
Publisher: Anthem Press

Australian Women's Historical Photography: Other Times, Other Views delves into a captivating exploration of the photographs created by six remarkable female photographers, set against the historical backdrop of settler violence towards Indigenous Australians, the First Women's Movement, the Great War of 1914-1918, Australia's imperial occupation of New Guinea, the final years of Chinese Nationalist Party rule in China, and ongoing debates surrounding the status of photography as an art form.

In the realm of historical accounts of Australia's cultural heritage, women's contributions have often been marginalized or overlooked, leading to a need for rectification. This study aims to rectify this imbalance by shedding light on the significant contributions of women photographers from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

At the same time, the book showcases the importance of amateur works in our understanding of the past, emphasizing that they hold equal significance alongside commercial photographs. By employing a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from scholarship in history, art history, anthropology, sociology, gender studies, and cultural studies, the book establishes a critical framework that appeals to a wide range of academic and archival researchers. This framework is not only interdisciplinary but also critically aware of its postcolonial and feminist foundations, reflecting the values and perspectives that hold meaning at any given historical juncture.

Furthermore, this book responds to the glaring lack of visibility of Australian realist, documentary, and commercial women's works. Existing histories of Australian women's photography primarily focus on modernist and contemporary works, with limited attention given to earlier women photographers. When historical accounts do mention earlier women photographers, they often provide cursory details or overlook the contributions of Indigenous women photographers, as well as women who traveled and captured photographs abroad.

To address this gap, Australian Women's Historical Photography: Other Times, Other Views presents a meticulously contextualized and detailed study of the works of six Australian women photographers. These photographers, hailing from different periods and backgrounds, have left an indelible mark on the field of photography. Their images capture a range of historical events and social movements, offering unique perspectives and narratives that have been overlooked or underrepresented in mainstream historical accounts.

Through their photographs, these women photographers have documented the experiences of women, marginalized communities, and the broader Australian society. They have captured the struggles and triumphs of the First Women's Movement, the impact of war on women and society, the colonization of New Guinea, and the political upheavals in China. Their works serve as a powerful testament to the resilience and creativity of women in challenging times.

By presenting a comprehensive examination of the works of these six Australian women photographers, this book aims to rectify the historical imbalance and shed light on the significant contributions of women photographers to Australia's cultural heritage. It encourages further research and exploration into the rich and diverse photographic archives of women, expanding our understanding of the past and contributing to a more inclusive and diverse narrative of Australian history.

Weight: 220g
Dimension: 228 x 152 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839990793