Reinventing history: Warren Neidich, photography, re-enactment, and contemporary event culture
Kubicki, Kathy (2010) Reinventing history: Warren Neidich, photography, re-enactment, and contemporary event culture. Journal of Visual Resources, 26 (2). pp. 167-187. ISSN 1477-2809
- Details
The role of the historian and the notion of what constitutes historical evidence have become more unstable in recent decades, particularly with digital imaging technology. In Warren Neidich’s project (and 1989 book) American History Reinvented, the photographer anticipated
the myriad current art practices that engage with re-enactment, where artists restage past events to investigate current political and social condition. Rather than simply perpetuating a complacent nostalgia for the past, a re-enactment as an art project may have the potential to prompt a critical reevaluation of historical narratives. A consideration of additional, more recent, photography suggests how Neidich’s American History Reinvented can be understood as a precursor to the work of contemporary practitioners negotiating the territory of re-enactment, particularly the UK artists Jeremy Deller (b. 1966), who won the Turner Prize in 2004; Tom McCarthy (b. 1969) and Rod Dickinson (b. 1965) in their collaborative projects; and photographer Jim Naughten.
Print ISSN 1097-3762
The url link provides access to the full text of this article.
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit View |