Photography and its Jewish Questions: Ethnicity, Anyone?

The distinguished Michael Berkowitz, Professor of Modern Jewish History at University College London, visited Edge Hill recently  to discuss his current research interest, Photography and its Jewish Questions: Ethnicity, Anyone?

Born in Rochester, New York, the extensively published Professor Berkowitz said it was both, ‘a pleasure and an honour' to meet with students and lecturers from Edge Hill to speak about the expansive Jewish photography industry and to highlight the treatment Jewish people received.

The second of Edge Hill's Ethnicity, Race, and Racism Research Seminars, this event showcased the global historical and cultural significance of these scarcely remembered artists from the last two centuries, documenting nations, events and defining cultures.

It highlighted that although their involvement and contributions have never been thoroughly documented, these entrepreneurs as well as artists have pioneered the photographic process, fundamentally established the industry and creatively revolutionised how we visually record our society today.

"With his informative, engaging and often humorous anecdotes, as well as published accounts, the Department of English & History was delighted to welcome Professor Berkowitz to Edge Hill. He revealed the true extent of Jewish involvement in commercial and artistic ventures, the marketing ploys photographers adopted and the strategies used to inscribe their own ethnicity into their work," Jenny Barrett, Programme Leader in Film Studies commented.

Dr James Renton, Senior Lecturer in History added, "The aim of the Seminar series is to explore ethnicity, race and racism from interdisciplinary perspectives, without historical or geographical boundaries".

The remaining events in the series include:

Monday 8th March, 12.05pm
Dr Mary Horbury, ‘Ethnicity and the Past: Some Insights from Ancient Egypt'.
Room M46

Wednesday 21st April, 2.00pm
Dr Ben Gidley (University of Oxford), 'The New Racism in Twenty-First Century Britain'.
Room M39