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When a photograph is considered iconic, it relates to the fact that it’s very influential and recognisable, famous even. The images that are labelled ‘iconic’ are embedded in our history and culture, often having a huge global impact on society. They may define a major event in history, or even come to create one. However what about the images, make them iconic?

Alberto Korda’s photograph of Che Guevara taken March 5, 1960 would be one of the most influential photographs in the course of history, becoming the global symbol of revolution and rebellion, but what aspects of the photograph make it so unforgettable?

Susan Bright talks about the photograph of Che Guevara in response to the question ‘Why is it famous’. She talks about the criteria that makes an image iconic, and, for Alberto Korda’s photograph of Che Guevara there seems to be a strong social value that influence its power as an image. There are many technical qualities of the photograph that contribute to it’s memorability, for example, its high contrast in blacks and whites, the upward angle of the camera shot, the focal point only being the face of Che Guevara, looking on with power and strength.

REPRESENTING BLACK LIVES IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY

Zanele Muholi is one of the most influential photographers/ artists today, exploring topics such as racism, labour, Eurocentrism and sexual politics, as well as showcasing South Africa’s black lesbian, gay, trans, queer and intersex communities. Muholi is a South Africa queer, non-binary visual activist (who uses the pronouns they/them/their) documenting various peoples lives in townships in South Africa. Their work is often bold and confrontational, addressing issues in racism and politics that come with race.

They focus on an ongoing project called “faces and phases” which depicts black lesbian and transgender people in response to the continuing discrimination and violence the LGBTI community faces. “Muholi’s self-proclaimed mission is ‘to re-write a black queer and trans visual history of South Africa for the world to know of our resistance and existence at the height of hate crimes in SA and beyond.'” –

https://www.yanceyrichardson.com/artists/zanele-muholi?view=slider#8

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MaID X, Durban, 2016

CRITICAL/ CONTEXTUAL

VISUAL

TECHNICAL

Law Enforcement in Photography

Marvin Joseph set himself the task of visualizing racism through a lens and chose one of his photo shoots to surround itself with the topic of law enforcement and police brutality, which currently a very big topic. He picks upon how black people are treated differently by the police although the police and law enforcement is meant to be what protects society and is meant to make everyone feel safe. Especially at the moment, black people, particularly in America, do not feel safe; outside or in their own homes. For instance, last year a woman by the name of Atatiana K. Jefferson, was shot through her own home through her bedroom window, whilst playing a game with her nephew in Texas by a police officicer.

“For inspiration, Malon Ali and I visited the Spirit Halloween store. While we were looking for the ugliest masks we could find, we spotted the faux crime-scene tape. The epiphany took hold instantly for both of us. The tape would illustrate the message: that being black in America can be a crime. Malon’s dark-skinned body would be wrapped mummy-like and consumed by this tape — which is proving impossible to shake off. His attempts as he leaps, poses, runs or even dances are in vain. He cannot escape the ever-looming presence of racism.”

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Relation to Modern Racism

In today’s society, many crimes have occurred on the polices enforcement’s part. Although many black people get blamed for crimes they haven’t committed and police officers get away with; racism, abuse and sometimes even murder, just because they’re white/have government power backing them up.

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