The Family Divided
- dzapp985
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
Let's talk a little about how perspectives have changed over the last--oh, let's say 70 years. Way back in 1955, there was this really ground breaking exhibition called, The Family of Man. I suppose that it was ground breaking because it included photographs from scores of countries (some that don't even exist anymore or have been renamed). Though the images were produced by photographers from around the world, the overwhelming majority were taken by American photographers.
Indeed the USA was regarded as the world leader in almost every field--be it art, science, literature and especially commerce. America seemed to be looking outward with curiosity and wonder and the hunger for knowledge of the outside world was feed by a myriad of publication led by periodicals such as Life, National Geographic, and Ladies' Home Journal (many photos in The Family of Man, originally appaeared in Ladies' Home Journal). The exhibition carried a joy and optimism that was evident in the overwhelming majority of images. Absent were images of war and conflict. Yes, there were many images that probably played a role in creating and supporting hopeless tropes of many peoples from many parts of the world. Clearly, as expansive as the exhibition may have been, there was still room for nuance and more varied perspective.
Over the last 30 plus years I have only occasionally flipped through the pages of the publication that accompanied this exhibition. It's provided both inspiration and important perspective. In 2025, I can see how many of these photographs have become a wonderful archive of how, mostly American photographers, viewed the world and themselves in the 1950s. It's safe to say that the pursuit of dynamism on display on these pages had an influence on how I approach my photography.
Today, my feeling is that the spirit of that exhibition has been left behind. America seems much less curious or interested in understanding others or itself. Instead, it has folded inward. After decades of being ravaged by flawed foreign policy and growing internal division that has been greatly accelerated by social media algorithms, America has succumbed to leadership that would rather pull the rug out from under nations that have relied on its allyship. After several decades of respite from the cold war, America has joined democracies the world over that have become steeped in division.
It may sound trite, but could the time be right to initiate a curatorial effort to once again show the world that we are all more alike than we've come to accept in recent times?
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