The Body And The Archive Analysis

In The Body and the Archive, Sekula takes us through the progression of the function and uses of photography, dating back to the time of the daguerreotypes. He first centers the article on the idea that photography in the late 1700s is the manifestation of modernity run riot. Throughout the article, Sekula focuses on a variety of points that delve deep and unwrap the implementation of photography in the criminal sphere. Sekula points out in the beginning of the article that Talbot, considered to be an early pioneer of photography, was one of the first to suggest that in the case of crimes, photography could essentially be a definitive form of evidence that could not be refuted, and by that regard, there’s a definite shift from the textual to the indexical. Thus, at this point, there could be a new use for photography. It doesn’t
I think this image was relevant to the text which brings up and discusses photography’s position in the criminal/judicial system. I thought this picture would be a great choice, to reflect the fact that some of the aspects of criminal photography established in the late 19th century are still being applied today in the manner in which these pictures are taken. One of the points made by Sekula, was that the photography of that time, had its ties in physiognomy and phrenology, as stated above, which meant that there was a distinct focus on the head and the idea that the surface of one’s face and body could somehow reveal their inner character. Mugshots today, have shifted away from that and instead, while they still focus on capturing pictures of the face and body, both as a way of identification and othering, photography in relation to criminals and law, do not use the features of a face or body to determine the inner character. Physiognomy and phrenology no longer have a grip on society and the business of photography in separating the so-called ‘good’ from the