Images of Immigrant Life
ACTIVITY
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Many immigrants came to the United States hoping for a better life, but instead
they faced poverty, deplorable working conditions, and undesirable living conditions.
Even though reformers worked hard to alleviate the plight of the immigrant,
most substantial change came through public outrage. Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine,
two documentary photographers, used their images to help spur change in housing
and child labor. In this activity, students develop an understanding of how
photographs are constructed and how they may influence out understanding of
social realities.
THEMES
Art, point of view, documentary photography, exhibitions
SKILLS/STANDARDS
MATERIALS
The photographs "Bandit's Roost" by Jacob Riis and "Climbing
into the Land of Promise, Ellis Island, 1905" by Lewis Hine represent samples
of documentary photography which depict arrival, living, and work conditions
of immigrants in turn of the century cities across the nation. For a brief biographical
sketch of both Riis and Hine, click here.
bandit's
Roost
climbing into the Land
of Promise,Ellis Island, 1905
ACTIVITY
Step 1: Photograph Analysis
Analyze the three photographs of immigrants in turn-of-century New York City. You may use the Photograph Analysis Worksheet as a guide. Think about connections between the photographs and the theme of the Heaven video such as immigration and urban reform
Step 2: Reading about Documentary Photographers
In your small group, read aloud the text about the work of documentary photographers.
Documentary photography describes an approach to photography which reveals
the subjective nature of an individual or group of people and their place in
the larger society. Documentary photographers use their camera to capture moments
which can transcend the individual, and speak to a universal language of memory
and experience. Some have argued that photography captures a "true likeness"
of time and space. Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine were two of the more notable and
influential documentary photographers at the turn-of-the-century. In photographs,
editorials, and early motion pictures, segments from immigrant life became the
occasion, for better or worse, to examine the integration of immigrants to the
larger society. Both Hine and Riis documented vivid and sometimes contrasting
views of immigrant life.
Questions to consider and discuss: Given what you’ve done and what you know, what can you say about the photographers and their social goals? How might the Riis and Hine photos have shaped contemporary public perceptions of immigrant life? Given the nature of photography, how do photographic images shape our perceptions today?
Step 3: Photography and Museum Exhibition
Your school has opened a new space, which will serve as a gallery. You have
been asked to coordinate and host an exhibit comparing NYC immigrant life past
and present. You are to exhibit photographs by Riis, Hine, and other photographers
and you have been asked to take pictures of today’s immigrants to exhibit
with the older photos. You need to begin working on this project by doing the
following:
• Each photo must be accompanied with a brief description for the exhibition.
For this exercise choose ONE of the photographs you analyzed earlier
and describe it from the point of view of the photographer.
• You have been asked to take photographs of today’s immigrants
in NYC. Before taking photographs, write a list of photographs you plan to take.
Consider what type of photos would reflect NYC today? Who would be in the
photos? What type of events would you photograph to illustrate the life of today’s
immigrants?
PHOTO ANALYSIS SHEET
1. Ask them to first look at the image and just describe (either in writing or in class discussion) what they see -- everything included in the image, (what's in the foreground, what's in the background, what is most prominent etc.).
2. Where do you think the photo was taken and why?
3. Who do you think was the intended audience for this photo?
4. Does the framing or composition of the image convey ideas or emotions? Do
you think the people in this photograph were posing?
5. In your opinion, what concept or theme is highlighted in each photograph?
6. When you look at this photo, what information is missing that might help you make sense of the photo?
