THE MATERIAL DIMENSIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: MATERIAL CULTURE AND FAMILY PORTRAITS

Abstract

This paper reflects theoretically about photography beyond the visual discourse, calling attention to its materiality. It delimits the so-called family portraits, images that represent different dimensions of family memory, such as childhood, religious rites, graduations, weddings and even death. Material culture is understood, according to the propositions of historian Ulpiano Toledo Bezerra de Meneses, as embodied cognitive process, including its visuality. As discussion, it is suggested that, considering photos are things, it is important to understand them in their process of production, circulation, reception and action, since they surpass the time life of their producers and get specific appropriations and uses, being inserted in hybrid social networks, as suggests Bruno Latour.