Szarkowski hugely impacted the realm of photography. He was a progressive thinker who insisted thst the photograph should be democratic. Szarkowski distinguished himself from his predecessors, Beaumont Newhall and Steichen. He asserted, “I could assume a more analytic, less apostolic attitude” (O’Hagan 2). This approach helped carve a new form of photographic aesthetic that has continued to influence how the public sees the world. He also was the first person to introduce the commercial art galley in New York.
Throughout this article, O’Hagan praises the revolutionary work of Szarkowski. He insists that Szarkowski’s influence, greatly transformed photography as a medium for art. He challenged the idea of what aesthetics truly meant and repeatedly put his reputation on the line. For example, his curated show called “New Documents,” created controversy. The show contained quite a bit of edgy and urban photographs. “The images were transgressive in both their form and content harsh black and white shots of so-called freaks, outsiders, and misfits” (O’Hagan 3). The other photographers featured shot “documentary style,” which was at the time, a completely new way of capturing subjects. O’Hagan is a big fan of Szarkowski’s work from the very beginning of this piece. Within the first paragraph, O’Hagan claims, “One could argue that he was the single most important force in American post-war photography” (O’Hagan 1).
I don’t think O’Hagan is necessarily overlooking anything; however, I do believe that his praise of Szarkowski certainly undermines the work of those that came before him. If a person follows similar ideologies to O’Hagan, it becomes a problem for photography as an art form. Discrediting the work of Newhall and Steichen, discredited the photography that they curated. This is problematic because then, photography gets boxed into what is deemed “exceptional photography” and “unexceptional photography.” Categorizing photography actually opposes everything it signifies. Photography tells many different stories and labeling it (good or bad) greatly influences the way photographers go about capturing images.
Lindsey's Blog 