Blog 10: Battlefield Images, Taking no Prisoners

 

Photography is a form of journalism we are all quite used to seeing, especially in the news. The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas has come out with a new exhibit which shows us the truths behind wars, and what really goes on, especially since a picture is worth a thousand words, after all. The idea for showing off these war-time photos came about ten years ago when the museum acquired Joe Rosenthal’s famous photograph of the flag raising in Iwo Jima, after seeing what a response that the photograph got from those who could resonate with it, the museum curator set out doing research on war-time photography that would take the museums visitors back in time to the scene of some of these events. During the research she acquired about four hundred new war photographs; some are far more gruesome than others. In one photograph you see live Chinese soldiers being used for Japanese soldier bayonet practice. In another you see Russian children standing around two other children who have just been hung. These photos have created quite the stir the museum and have people coming from all across the country to see them, most of these visitors are war veterans themselves, adding to the nostalgia of the exhibit. So many memories are held here, victories and defeats alike. Some of these photos have never been seen by the public until now, giving people an even more personal look at what war was really like for our veterans. I feel this is one of the best things that the museum could have done, seeing as it is patriotic and drawing more attention to the museum, but also because it is part of our history and it needs to be brought into the light.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/arts/design/war-photography-at-the-museum-of-fine-arts-houston.html?pagewanted=all   11/8/12 11:17AM