HOW ROBERT CAPA AND MAGNUM PHOTOS CHANGED THE ROLE OF

PHOTOGRAPHERS IN MODERN JOURNALISM AND HISTORY

Research Proposal, Bálint Bak MA, ELTE

Introduction

Research and presentation topic – Associating through History, ISHA New Year’s Seminar 2015, Olomouc, Czech Republic

Workshop: Art, Culture and Their Ways of Associating

Keywords: 20th century history, photography, artist associations, Robert Capa, Magnum Photos

Hypothesis

Through their work and by founding Magnum Photos in 1947, Robert Capa and his friends and colleagues reclaimed the value of photographs and their status as unique works of art, managing to reserve copyrights.

Consequently, the relationship between publishers and photographers changed, contributing to the development of photojournalism and documentary photography.

Research Questions

How did Capa’s personal career influence photojournalism?

What theories are there to describe the relationship between photo and photographer, photo and viewer, publisher and correspondent?

What purpose was meant for Magnum Photos and what impact did it make?

To what extent did associating further the photographers’ agenda? What role did individual achievements play?

Methods

Utilising literature on the theories and history of photography

Analysing gallery and exhibition reviews Using contemporary media (press) and

photo archives

Bibliography

BAJOMI-LÁZÁR, Péter: Manipulál-e a média? [Does Media Manipulate?] In: Médiakutató, Summer 2006

CAPA, Robert: Slightly Out of Focus. s. l., 1947 FLUSSER, Vilém: A fotográfia filozófiája [The Philosophy of Photography].

Budapest, 1990 Impact Magnum Has Had On Photography. s. n.

http://www.ukessays.com/essays/photography/impact-magnum-has-had-on-photography-photography-essay.php, Retrieved 22 November, 2014

SONTAG, Susan: Regarding the Pain of Others. New York, 2004 STEMLERNÉ BALOG, Ilona: Történelem és fotográfia [History and Photography].

Budapest, 2009 TASNÁDI, Róbert: Miről szólnak a képek? [What Do Pictures Tell Us?] In:

Médiakutató, Winter 2012 TŐRY, Klára: A fényképezés nagy alkotó [Great Artists of Photography]. revised

edition, Budapest, 2004 VOLKERY, Carsten: Magnum-Fotoagentur: "Das Drama der Geschichte - in

einem Bild" [The Magnum Photo Agency: “The Drama of History - In One Picture”]. Interview. http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/magnum-fotoagentur-fotografie-erzaehlt-drama-der-geschichte-a-998704.html#, Retrieved 22 November, 2014

WHELAN, Richard: Robert Capa: A Biography. Lincoln, NE, 1994

Thank You for Your Attention!