David Levi Strauss: Between the Eyes: Essays on Photography and Politics

Between the Eyes is a collection of essays that interpret several political events through their depiction in photographic works. Strauss stresses the rapid growth of cybernetics, digitization, and interactivity, which he believes has destroyed direct democracy and the power of the image. The power to move people to action. It is in this age of technology that we have forgotten how to do so. Photographs of pain, "do not compel us to action...because we are not implicated." They are our reality and reflection is mere reflex. Translating every photographic work into a cohesive political statement, Strauss provides us with a background of each event and artist. The invention of postmodern propaganda is examined through photojournalists, Richard Cross and John Hoagland's work of the crisis in El Salvador and Nicaragua during the 1980s. Likewise, the Rwanda Genocide of 1994 is reconstructed through Alfredo Jaar's photographic depiction of the devastation of the Tutsi people and the failure of the West to act. The book begins and ends in the dark. "This is written in the night," John Berger states in his poetic introduction. Further more, the last chapter is titled, "In the Dark." It explores the irony of living in the darkness of images, where light is the essential. If we could pull ourselves out of the dark there's no telling what we could do in light. Review by Lilly Ball

Abu Ghraib: The Politics of Torture (The Terra Nova Series) This book is not only theory but personal and intelligent thoughts from David Levi Strauss about what photographers' images are saying, what their audience is hearing and how sometimes the two are not the same. The essays are short and written plainly but eloquent. Excellent addition to your photography library.

New York writer, critic, and poet David Levi Strauss presents, Between The Eyes: Essays On Photography And Politics, an anthology of stimulating, serious-minded essays about the interplay of photography and politics, as well as hot-button topics and lasting social issues pertaining to both. A handful of chapters are not independent essays per se, but rather interviews with experienced photographers. From "Where the Camera Cannot Go" to "A Threnody for Street Kids", "Photography and Propaganda" and much more, each writing lays bare the core of photography and politics - or sometimes, the core of the author. From true stories of optimistic photographers struggling to use their craft to help the oppressed, to the stunning impact that cameras any layperson can easily use have had upon photography as a whole, Between The Eyes is an insightful, contemplative, tightly written set of discussions, illustrated with a handful of well-chosen photographic images.