In and Out of Sight: Modernist Writing and the Photographic Unseen

Photography is an art that is between arresting singularity and ambiguous plurality, and it is important to the writing of Gertrude Stein, Jean Toomer, John Dos Passos, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Alix Beeston's book In and Out of Sight explores the history of photography in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, arguing that the gaps and intervals of the composite literary text model the visual syntax of photography and its silences, absences, and equivocations. The shadowy figure of the woman-in-series emerges as central to the conceptual space of modernist literature, recasting absence and silence as forms of presence and witness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In the ever-evolving landscape of post-digital media, where streams and feeds of images dominate, the art of photography stands as a captivating blend of singularity and ambiguity. Drawing upon insights from visual culture studies that highlight the interplay between still and moving images, In and Out of Sight presents a groundbreaking exploration of the relationship between photography and modernist literature. This literature, traditionally perceived as tracing the influence of modern visual technologies, is now re-examined through the lens of photography.

Alix Beeston, in this compelling work, makes pioneering claims about the profound impact of photography on the writing of influential figures such as Gertrude Stein, Jean Toomer, John Dos Passos, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Through a meticulous traversal of the history of photography in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Beeston unravels the intricate connections between these writers and the medium of photography. From the composite experiments of Francis Galton to the epic portrait project of August Sander; from the surrealist self-fashioning of Claude Cahun to the reappropriation of lynching photographs by black activist groups; from the collectable postcards of Broadway stars to the glamour shots of Hollywood celebrities—these and other serialized photographic projects serve as essential contexts for understanding the fragmented, composite forms of literary modernism.

In a series of meticulously researched literary analyses, Beeston argues that the gaps and intervals of the composite literary text model the visual syntax of photography—as well as its silences, absences, and equivocations. Within these textual openings, the social and political order of modernity is negotiated and reshaped. In and Out of Sight gracefully moves in and out of these textual spaces, pursuing the elusive yet visible and invisible figure of the woman-in-series. This shadowy figure emerges as a powerful agent of transformation, recasting absence and silence as forms of presence and witness.

Through its exploration of the interplay between photography and modernist literature, In and Out of Sight offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of the post-digital era. It challenges us to reconsider the role of visual media in shaping our understanding of literature and culture. By highlighting the significance of photography as a medium of artistic expression and social commentary, this book contributes to the ongoing dialogue between art forms and the broader societal context.

In conclusion, In and Out of Sight is a groundbreaking work that delves into the intricate relationship between photography and modernist literature. Through its rich analysis and compelling arguments, Beeston provides a fresh perspective on the power of visual media in shaping our understanding of the world. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art, culture, and history.

Weight: 410g
Dimension: 155 x 238 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197673010