Subjective Documentary Photography in ‘Normalised’ Czechoslovakia (1968-89). Decoding Vladimír Birgus’ Work

Paula Gortázar

doi:10.24310/Fotocinema.2019.v2i19.6647

Subjective documentary photography in ‘Normalised’ Czechoslovakia (1968-89). Decoding Vladimír Birgus’ work

Authors

Paula Gortázar University of Westminster, London. United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24310/Fotocinema.2019.v2i19.6647

Keywords:

Czech photography, Slovak photography, normalization, Objective documentary photography, Vladirmír Birgus

Abstract

This paper aims to study the use of a ‘subjective’ view in Czechoslovakian photography through documentary practices developed during the period of ‘normalisation’ (1968-1989). Its intention is to analyse how are we to understand the notion of ‘subjective’ in Czechoslovakian documentary photography and its significance during the last two decades of communist rule in the country. Through the analysis of Vladimír Birgus’ work, the article discusses how the principles of ‘subjectivity’ in photography aided Czechoslovakian photographers to express their reactions against the established power; a reaction that, thanks to the attributes of this ‘subjective view’, was able to remain ‘under-cover’ through the use of a coded visual language in the photograph.

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Author Biography

Paula Gortázar, University of Westminster, London.

University of Westminster, London.

Paula Gortázar (Ph.D) is a researcher, artist and lecturer based in London. In 2013 she was awarded a Full PhD Scholarship by the University of Westminster. Her thesis 'Transitional Frames: From Normalisation to Democracy. Czech and Slovak Art Photography (1968-1998)' was completed in 2018. The research examines the development of art photography practices in Czechoslovakia from the establishment of the ‘Normalisation’ period in 1968, until a decade after the collapse of its communist regime in 1989.

References

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Gortázar, P. (2019). Towards an Emancipation of Photographic Vision: ‘Visualism’ under Czechoslovakian Normalisation (1968-1989). In Photography and Culture. https://doi.org/10.1080/17514517.2019.1596598

Gortázar, P. (2018). Transitional Frames: From Normalisation to Democracy. Czech and Slovak Art Photography (1968-1998). London: University of Westminster https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.742308

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Published

2019-07-22

How to Cite

Gortázar, P. (2019). Subjective documentary photography in ‘Normalised’ Czechoslovakia (1968-89). Decoding Vladimír Birgus’ work. Fotocinema. Revista científica De Cine Y fotografía, 19, 101–123. https://doi.org/10.24310/Fotocinema.2019.v2i19.6647

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Issue

Vol. 19 (2019)

Section

ARTICLES

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