Documentary of American cultural history through Photography
AXS ENTERTAINMENT / ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT / MOVIES
March 7, 2014
Rating:
Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of A People”, a documentary Directed by Thomas Allen Harris, is indeed stunning and provocative. In an era where much of early African American history and culture post emancipation has been buried since the end of the Civil Rights movement. This historical collection of contributions by Black American Photographers, such as the celebrated James Vanderzee, jogs the memory with new seldom seen and old seldom discussed, inspiring and sometimes tragic images of who we are as an American community today.
After the assignations of the sixties and early seventies, the movement towards elevating the African American culture has been seemingly focused on securing progress of present and future accomplishments. The flurry of assignations less than fifty years ago seem lifetimes away in
much of the current social trend. It is refreshing to see the recent generations interacting in life as if the major struggles in America are a memory of long past.
The ugly weeds of racism that stunted the growth of progress seem to have been cut to the quick with only a few straggling hangers-on to old beliefs of segregation and race superior consciousness rattling about. But have the roots from which these weeds grew, also been pulled so the weeds do not grow back?
“Darkly” is an undeniable account of American history and how deeply those roots existed. Some of the photos and images you will see were considered by most Americans so inhumane that they were taken out of the school libraries and classrooms because of their horrid content. “Darkly” brings to the forefront a photographic foot print that garners great discussion for old and new generations alike to compare notes and continue to elevate our minds and social quality.
how deeply those roots existed. Some of the photos and images you will see were considered by most Americans so inhumane that they were taken out of the school libraries and classrooms because of their horrid content. “Darkly” brings to the forefront a photographic foot print that garners great discussion for old and new generations alike to compare notes and continue to elevate our minds and social quality.
For more photos of interest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ddfr/8569890932/in/photostream/ On Facebook Photos: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Through-a-Lens-Darkly/18696949055?ref=br_…
“Through a Lens Darkly” was Inspired by the book, “Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present”, Deborah Willis author.
Cast and Credits
Director: Thomas Allen Harris
Screenwriters: Thomas Allen Harris, Don Perry, Paul Carter Harrison
Producers: Thomas Allen Harris, Kimberly Steward, Deborah Willis, Ann Bennett, Don Perry Cinematographer: Martina Radwan
Editors: Kim Miille, Matthew Cohn
Composers: Vernon Reid, Miles Jay
Associate Producers: Sabrina Hawkins, Sheila Maniar
Production Associates: Sienna Pinterhughes, Natalie Shmuel
