War and Photography

"War and Photography" breaks new ground in claiming photographs as valid documentary sources for the historian. Caroline Brothers applies her argument with special reference to French and British newspaper images of the Spanish Civil War. She rejects as inadequate analyzes based upon the content of the images alone, demonstrating the way photographic meaning is institutionally and culturally generated. Brothers maintains that photographs, acting as witnesses despite themselves, convey a wealth of information about the collective attitudes and beliefs particular to the culture in which they operate.