The Left Conference – Photography and Film criticism 2017

Since the late nineteenth century, the printed photograph in the media stood as a powerful tool for denouncing social injustice and claiming better life conditions – i.e. as seen in the work of Jacob Riis, Lewis Hine, or Joshua Benoliel, among many others. In the early decades of the twentieth century the use of images had a significant boost with film, when directors such as Flaherty, Eisenstein, John Grierson, Vertov, Dvorjenko or Ivens, combining documental intentions with avant-garde experimental claims, made possible to discuss political and historical conditions.

The aim of the conference is to discuss and debate photographs and film as a social tool from a leftist stance. In particular, to examine and explore the relation of documentary practices and political commitment in different historical circumstances throughout the twentieth and the twenty first centuries.

The seminar/conference together with a film projection program will take place at Contemporary Art Museum of Chiado in Lisbon on November 16-18 2017.

We invite paper submission of no more than 500 words abstract that focuses on photography and film related to:
• the creation of documentary as a social and political weapon;
• the soviet revolution as an experimental wave in photography, design and film;
• anticolonial and postcolonial imagery;
• women rights and feminist imagery;
• avant gardes and ideology claims;
• the role of images in the leftist movements;
• Contemporary art practices and social and political criticism;
• Alan Sekula legacy and the political commitment with images.

Keynote speakers
Steve Edwards (Birbeck College)
Gail Day (University of Leeds)

Conference Venue & Dates
Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea – Museu do Chiado / National Museum of Contemporary Art – Chiado Museum
Faculdade das Belas Artes da Universidade de Lisboa / Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon
November 16-17-18, 2017

Languages
English

Fees
Paper Submission: free
Regular Registration: 40€
Student Registration: 25€

Please send your abstracts until July 31st, 2017 to:
paulo.catrica@gmail.com
detomasi.filippo@gmail.com
lais.ines@gmail.com

Visit official website for more details