topic 2 - images of childhood
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IMAGES OF CHILDHOOD
Perspectives on Children
Sociology of ChildrenEastern Washington University,
Children’s Studies
How do we define ‘Childhood’?
How do we define ‘Childhood’?
What does Childhood mean?
How do we define ‘Childhood’?
What does Childhood mean?
How is it constructed?
“The thing itself [childhood] cannot be praised, only its potential.”
– Cicero, 106-43 BC
William-Adolphe Bougeureau, 1900
"Why rob these innocents of the joys which pass so quickly? Why fill with bitterness the fleeting early days of childhood, days which will no more return for them than for you?"
– Jean Rousseau, 18th c.
“Thus parents, by humouring and cockering them when little, corrupt the principles of nature in their children, and wonder afterwards to taste the bitter waters, when they themselves have poison’d the fountain.”
– John Locke, 1693
"Unless you give children all they ask for, they are peevish and cry, aye, and strike their parents sometimes; and all this they have from nature. Yet are thy free from guilt, neither may we properly call them wicked ... because wanting the free use of reason they are exempted from all duty."
– Thomas Hobbes, 1642
From the day your baby is born, you must teach him to do without things. Children today love luxury too much. They have
execrable manners, flaunt authority, have no respect for their elders. They no longer rise when their parents or teachers enter
the room. What kind of awful creatures will they be when they grow up?"
From the day your baby is born, you must teach him to do without things. Children today love luxury too much. They have
execrable manners, flaunt authority, have no respect for their elders. They no longer rise when their parents or teachers enter
the room. What kind of awful creatures will they be when they grow up?"
– Socrates, 469-399 BC
ANALYZING IMAGES
Do images represent a
culture’s values?
Do images represent a
culture’s values?
Do images shape a culture’s values?
Do images shape a culture’s values?
Do images shape a culture’s values?
Who creates the images?
Who creates the images?
Who are they created for?
How do these images affect you?
How do these images affect you?
Do images represent a culture’s values?
Do images shape a culture’s values?
Who creates the images?
Who are they created for?
How do these images affect you?
Images of Children Throughout History
The Child As Object
Rogier van der Weyden, after 1454
“In medieval society the idea of childhood did not exist; this is not to suggest that children were neglected, forsaken or
despised. The idea of childhood is not to be confused with affection for children; it corresponds to an awareness of the
particular nature of childhood ... which distinguishes the child from the adult. In
medieval society this awareness was lacking.
“In medieval society the idea of childhood did not exist; this is not to suggest that children were neglected, forsaken or
despised. The idea of childhood is not to be confused with affection for children; it corresponds to an awareness of the
particular nature of childhood ... which distinguishes the child from the adult. In
medieval society this awareness was lacking.
– Philippe Ariès, 1962
The Child As Object
Rogier van der Weyden, after 1454
The Child As Object
Ellis Island MadonnaLewis Hine, 1910
Madonna and Child with CherubsAndrea Mantegna, 1490
The Child As ObjectIntegrated Within Community...
... or Central to the FamilyThe First Born, Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten, Dutch, 17th c.
Post-mortem photographF.X. Filteau, late 19th c.
The Child As an Individual
Ernesta with NurseCecilia Beaux, American, 1894
Ernesta with NurseCecilia Beaux, American, 1894
Innocent,
Girl Coming through a DoorwayGeorge Washington Mark, American, 1845
vulnerable,
Helen Levitt, 1970s
Girl on a Sea-SawJohn G. Brown,, American, late 19th c.
...and fragile.
Sleeping ChildArthur Leipzig, American, 1950
UntitledHeinrich Heidersberger, German, 1927
But also as active...
Two Children ReadingHeinrich Kuehn, Austria, 1900
...intelligent
Luxembourg GardenAndre Kertesz, American, 1928
honest, responsive,
and free.
In The StreetsHelen Levitt, 1930s
In The StreetsHelen Levitt, 1930s
Waterloo , Edwin H. Blackfield, American, late 19th c.
Presented with little status...
Mother and ChildDorothea Lange, American, 1952
Presented with little status,relative to adults...
... relative to adults
Black Boy and Great Dane, George Zimbel, Canadian, 1960
... and little importance...
...in relationto society.
The ChildAs a Learner of Adult Culture
Imitating adults
Modeling adults
Emulating adults
Socialized by adults.
The ChildAs a Victim
“This image generated 2,598 pieces of mail in about 15 days... Of this, 2414 contained contributions.”
– Mabel S. Faust, Life Letters Chief, 1961
In ad campaigns
“Perhaps never before has an exhibit been mounted with such urgency.”
– Charles Kuralt, on LIFE’s United Nations photo exhibition
“Somalia’s Cry”
“Perhaps never before has an exhibit been mounted with such urgency.”
– Charles Kuralt, on LIFE’s United Nations photo exhibition
“Somalia’s Cry”
In ad campaigns
and policy campaigns
and policy campaigns
The ChildAs a Deviant
The First CigaretteD. Wilson, American, late 19th c.
which can seem enduring...
The First CigaretteD. Wilson, American, late 19th c.
The First CigaretteD. Wilson, American, late 19th c. William Gedney, Kentucky, 1964
Child with a Toy Hand Grenade in Central ParkDiane Arbus, American, 1962
or threatening.
Child with a Toy Hand Grenade in Central ParkDiane Arbus, American, 1962
The Child as a ConsumerGinny Nyrall, Grey Villet, American, 1956
Ginny Nyrall, Grey Villet, American, 1956
Where Children SleepJames Mollison, English, 2010
Images of Children are...
Images of Children are...Produced by adults for adults,
Images of Children are...Produced by adults for adults,
Designed to elicit emotions,
Images of Children are...Produced by adults for adults,
Designed to elicit emotions,
or to sell a product.
Images of Children are...Produced by adults for adults,
Designed to elicit emotions,
or to sell a product.
What is the message?
Is work for children dangerous?
...Or Empowering?
Are children victims of violence?
Or Perpetrators?
Can Images Discriminate?
How do they shape how we view infants, young
children...
Teenagers and young people?
What is the message?
Children in Cinema
“We like to say that the child is competent but it is not enough just to
declare this. If we really want the child to be competent, we have to change time, space, roles and rules to permit
this competent child to exist.”
– Carlina Rinaldi, Reggio Emilia
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