Photography as an allegorical medium in the context of the visual arts

This article reflects on the possibility of photography to work as an allegorical medium in the context of the contemporary visual arts. Initially, it is discussed the importance of the concept of the romantic fragment in the formulation of Walter Benjamin´s theory of allegory. Afterwards,...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Macêdo, Silvana
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2008
Country:Brasil
Institution:Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL)
Repository:Crítica Cultural (Online)
Language:Portuguese
OAI Identifier:oai:portaldeperiodicos.animaeducacao.com.br:article/122
Online Access:https://portaldeperiodicos.animaeducacao.com.br/index.php/Critica_Cultural/article/view/122
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Contemporary art
Photography
Allegory
Benjamin
Arte contemporánea
Fotografía
Alegoría
Arte contemporânea
Fotografia
Alegoria
Description
Summary:This article reflects on the possibility of photography to work as an allegorical medium in the context of the contemporary visual arts. Initially, it is discussed the importance of the concept of the romantic fragment in the formulation of Walter Benjamin´s theory of allegory. Afterwards, recent debates on allegory are considered, which are based on Benjamin´s approach, investigating the production of some contemporary artists who use photography. The relation between site and non-site by Robert Smithson is examined, and within the perspective given by these concepts, one may conclude that it is possible to conceive the photography of documentation of ephemeral actions and interventions as an allegorical medium. The artworks approached are those by Robert Smithson, Richard Long, Hamish Fulton and asikainen&macedo.