History and Modern Media: A Personal Journey

John Mraz's book explores Mexican photography and his innovative methodology, which examines historical photographs through the concepts of genre and functions. It tests two genres: Indianist imagery and progressive photography, and interweaves an autobiographical narrative with concrete research. The book argues that knowing past and other cultures is crucial in societies dominated by short-term thinking and that historians must use modern media to offer their knowledge as alternatives to the perpetual present. Mexico is home to a thriving school of photohistorians who work from the discipline of photohistory, focusing on vernacular photographs.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2021
Publisher: Vanderbilt University Press

In the captivating realm of History and Modern Media, John Mraz delves deep into the captivating world of Mexican photography, showcasing his innovative methodology that explores historical photographs through the lens of genre and function. This method, honed through extensive research in photojournalism, comes to life as we examine two distinct genres: Indianist imagery, which manifests as an expression of imperial, neo-colonializing, and decolonizing photography, and progressive photography, embodied in worker and laborist imagery, as well as feminist and decolonizing visuality.

The book weaves an autobiographical narrative seamlessly with concrete research, unveiling the resistance Mraz encountered in U.S. academia to this fresh approach to presenting and describing the past. Additionally, he shares enlightening experiences as a visiting professor at various U.S. universities, shedding light on the transformative impact of moving to Mexico and embracing his Mexican identity.

Mexico boasts a thriving school of photohistorians, a community that is truly unparalleled in its global significance. While some of these scholars have backgrounds in Art History, the majority have honed their expertise in what we define as photohistory. This discipline focuses on vernacular photographs, those created outside of artistic intentions and comprising a staggering 98% of all photographic images.

A fundamental premise of this book is that gaining knowledge about the past and other cultures is of paramount importance in societies often characterized by short-term and parochial thinking. In the fast-paced world of today, where hyper-audiovisuality reigns supreme, historians are compelled to leverage modern media to share their knowledge as alternatives to the constant present in which we live.

Through his meticulous research and thought-provoking insights, John Mraz invites us to embark on a journey of discovery, challenging us to reimagine our understanding of history and the role of photography in shaping our collective memory. His work serves as a testament to the power of visual storytelling and the enduring impact of cultural heritage.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780826501448