Phototextualities: Intersections of Photography and

Narrative by
Alex Hughes and Andrea Noble Literary Review

For my research for photography, I felt as though there was a gap in how
to tell a narrative in just one frame, so I went to the University of Cumbria
library to update my knowledge of narrative in photography.

I got out a book called Phototextualities: Intersections of Photography and

Narrative by Alex Hughes and Andrea Noble which I think will help me
with my research.

In the book, I found useful information about how integral photography

was in the Holocaust and showed the public the victims of the Holocaust. A
photograph, which shows a little boy putting his hands up, has become
“the poster child of the Holocaust” 1 The photo in question has been used
repeatedly to represent the holocaust in memorials because of the history
the photograph represents.

This photo shows the oppression and the Jews are “photographed in the
most vulnerable poses” 2 This image sticks into the minds who see it, as we
see vulnerability, especially as the young boy is at the front of the photo
and because of this we feel concern for the Jews and for the young boy.

This shows me that photography not only can look visually beautiful but
can also tell the narrative of history as it shows a snapshot of time. I would
like to be able to achieve this in my career and I would like to be able to
tell a narrative in my project.

Because I want to do a campaign style series of photos, it’s important to

understand how photos can be timeless and unforgotten.

This book has helped immensely with my research for my photography

section, as it is important to understand why a photograph becomes
famous as well as influential and unforgettable.

Overall, this book opened my eyes about how important photography is to

not only narrative but history too, without photography, there wouldn’t be
any evidence of the Holocaust and the victims of the Holocaust would be
forgotten.
1Hirsch, M (2003). Phototextualities:Intersections of Photography and Narrative.
America: Library of CongressCataloging-in-Publication Data. P19.

2Hirsch, M (2003). Phototextualities:Intersections of Photography and Narrative.

America: Library of CongressCataloging-in-Publication Data. P21.