Colonial Negatives - by Patricia Goldsworthy (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Colonial Negatives concerns early photography in colonial Morocco, which Patricia Goldsworthy frames as a study in French, as well as Moroccan and Jewish history. This book highlights processes of constant negotiation between French and Moroccans about the ways to interpret history and to construct a modern society."-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

In Colonial Negatives, Patricia Goldsworthy examines the intertwined histories of French, Moroccan Muslim, and Moroccan Jewish photographers in establishing a photography industry in Morocco. She demonstrates how photography in Morocco became linked to French imperialism when Sultan 'Abd al-'Aziz hired French cinematographer Gabriel Veyre as his private photography instructor. 'Abd al-'Aziz saw photography as a tool of political power and control useful in asserting his authority. For the French, photography was a way to control the international perception of their interventions in Morocco. But throughout the colonial era, photography upheld, questioned, and contradicted stereotypes about Moroccan history and society, shaping debates over conquest and rule. Images of colonial violence demonstrated the oppressive nature of French pacification and were used to oppose colonialism. Moroccan Jews established their own studios and captured images depicting historical events overlooked by European photographers. Colonial Negatives addresses the postindependence reappropriation of colonial imagery and colonial tropes to demonstrate the ongoing role and importance of photography in interpreting and reclaiming Moroccan history.

About the Author

Patricia Goldsworthy is Professor of Transnational Europe and Middle East History at Western Oregon University.