Contribution to Book
The Childhood of Human Rights: The Kodak on the Congo
Cultural Theory
(2010)
Abstract
This chapter examines the Congo reform movement’s use of atrocity photographs in their human rights campaign (c. 1904–13) against Belgian King Leopold, colonial ruler of the Congo Free State. This material analysis shows that human rights are conceived by spectators who, with the aid of the photographic apparatus, are compelled to judge that crimes against humanity are occurring to others. The article also tracks how this judgement has been haunted by the potent wish to undo the suffering witnessed.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2010
Editor
David Oswell
Publisher
Sage
ISBN
978-1848607057
Citation Information
Sharon Sliwinski. "The Childhood of Human Rights: The Kodak on the Congo" LondonCultural Theory (2010) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/sharon_sliwinski/19/