This section showcases photo-texts* featuring LGBTQI historical figures through historical knowledge, canonical text analysis, visual analysis, and digital humanities (DH), aiming to explore how photography has contributed to the construction of psychiatric categories, sexual minority, gender, and race identities, as well as the portrayal of criminality.
It features student projects from an undergraduate class titled “Queer Photography from France in the 19th Century.” Visualizing the intersection of medical, colonial, and photographic practices alongside critical analysis illuminates the multifaceted process of visually constructing identities that originated in the 19th century.
*A photo-text is a combination of photographic images and written text presented together to create a cohesive narrative or artistic expression. This format is often used in books, exhibitions, and multimedia projects to enhance the storytelling potential of both mediums, providing deeper context, commentary, or emotional impact.
For example, a photo-text delving into the work of Charcot illustrates photography’s pivotal role in shaping psychiatric classifications.
Please note that these projects are written in French. A translation is coming.