Photography As A Tool Of Colonization And Control Critical Thinking

In the past, photography played major roles in both colonization and control. Various societies employed the use of photography as a means of communication. In the essay "The Work of Art in the age of Its Technological Reproducibility", Walter Benjamin tells us about the rise of Nazism and the Nazi propaganda in Germany between 1935 and 1936, where photography played a central role. By use of photography and moving images (cinema), Adolf Hitler could directly confront the masses. With this confrontation power, he was able to pass and spread his message. The message could be perceived differently: either nationalism or revolution message; or acceptance or resistance message (Emerling).
Various movies and documentaries were made, which would help in spreading the message. Due to Hitler’s desire for dominance, he was filmed from below in order to make the people view him with a God-like aura. Cinematography formed a strong tool for propaganda. The propaganda was used as a tool to reshape the individuals’ worldview by diverting their attention of reality. Through this, colonization and control was achieved.
Technology of photography vastly developed during the industrial revolution. The contributions of photography towards the scientific progresses also increased during this period. The ability of photography in documenting subjects and moments was very significant as it gave more light in the scientific environment. The "Animal Locomotion" photographs of Eadweard Muybridges had more scientific aspects than artistic. These photographs greatly inspired Physiologist Etienne-Jules Marey who later ventured into how to increase the scientific use of photography. The motion picture camera used nowadays owes its origin to Marey's chronophotograph which had a technological reproducibility.