Before we start discussing the main peculiarities of the book “China and Its People in Early Photographs” by John Thompson, it is worth mentioning that it is a brilliant combination of photography and literature. In order to gain better understanding of Thompsons’ style, it is necessary to ascertain the major difference between literature and visual art in general, because it will help us to understand in which way they can interplay with each other, and what is more important how they can supplement each other.
Difference Between Visual Arts and Literature
Speaking about the major difference between the visual arts and literature, we should first mention that they both appeal to our senses. However, it is quite possible to say that in this aspect literature seems to be more powerful, because it may have a powerful impact on all five senses. The word, itself is able to call up various associations. The main peculiarity of literature as a kind of art is that it makes us conjure up images, which depend only on the person or perhaps it would be better to say his or her perception of the world.
As far as visual arts are concerned, we should mention that, in the majority of cases, the images they convey are static, they are not developing. However, visual images can produce stronger impression on the viewer, because a person mostly relies on his or her eyesight especially, if we are speaking about sense organs. Naturally, we cannot say that it is always so, but this is what psychologists say.
Photography
As regards, photography, it should be taken into consideration that there has always been a heated debate, whether we can call it art or not because art in general is something that transforms life, changes it. Many art critics say that photography produces “still” images because photography does not transform them only reproduces them. However, we can say that even “still” images may render some information and stir up emotions, either positive or negative. This is the reason, why we should refer to photography as an art.
As far as John Thompson is concerned, that he is considered to one of pioneers of photography. In spite of the fact the majority of his works are believed to be documentaries, Johnson is often referred to a photojournalist, because he often focused attention on the social aspect of human relationships, it is worth mentioning that some of them are devoid of artistic qualities. However, the realism of his works produces that strange presence effect, which is very difficult to achieve, especially if we are speaking about photography.
Unique Attempt to Incorporate Photography with the Written Word
In his book “China and Its People”, the author makes almost unique attempt to incorporate photography with the written word. It stands to reason, that now it does not seem so unusual, because there are many books supplemented with illustrations, but in this case, it is literature that helps photography not vice versa. This interplay of visual images and the printed word creates some kind of “three-dimensional” picture in out consciousness.
Perhaps, it would be prudent to substantiate this statement bys some examples, and describe the main peculiarities of Thompson technique. If we take for instance his photograph, which is called “Street Group Kiu-Kiang”, we should first mention that it portrays a group of “journeymen tradesmen” Moreover, the verb to “portray” is quite appropriate in this case, because Thompson gives some explanatory moment, which us allow to gain a better understanding of the photograph. We are able to get a clear idea of the culture in the then China.
It is quite possible to say that we will understand the author’s message if we have only photographs at our disposal. It is not very difficult for us to understand, what these people are doing. Moreover, the author, who is extremely attentive to minor details, gives a veritable account of China at the end of the nineteenth century. We can arrive at the conclusion that the overwhelming majority of people in the then China simply could not afford to settle a shop, it was something they could only hanker for. Moreover, it will not be a far-fetched conclusion that the average conditions of life left much to be desired. However, we are not familiar with the people, shown in the photograph. Certainly, it is quite possible for us to guess what they are occupied with, but their inner world remains terra incognita to us. Probably, the key peculiarity of visual arts is that they often allow the viewer to play with various interpretations of the same image.
Now that we have briefly summarized the peculiarities of the photograph, itself with no regard to the author’s comment (although the name of the picture is also a comment to a certain degree) it is necessary to analyze the way in which it corresponds to the text.
Author Makes Us Familiar with the Background of People
First and foremost, we should mention that the author makes us familiar with the social and educational background of people, portrayed in the photograph. We find out that some of them work miracles of ingenuity in order to make ends meet. For example, a person may quite easily combine the profession of a penman, with that of fortune-teller and physician. Moreover, we can see that the level of literacy and scholarship in general was far from ideal.
The central figure of a barber, who is doing his job right in the street, with all his instruments in the small cabinet, clearly indicates us, that that Chinese people are resourceful to the highest degree.
Naturally, we would have never known that if the author had not given these tips. However, some artists may easily object to this statement and say that a true artist is able to do without the printed word and that a good picture or photograph usually speaks for itself.
Moreover, it is worth mentioning, that Thompsons’ comments make his picture more subjective because a writer always can biased in his judgment. Nevertheless, we can say that the author’s humorous remarks only bring out the true realism of the picture.
Conclusion
Thus, having analyzed the Thompsons’ book “China and Its People”, we may arrive at the conclusion that the interplay of visual arts and literature creates the so-called effect of presence, which cannot always be achieved if they are used separately. Thus, they can supplement each other. However, this issue still requires in-depth analysis from various standpoints.
Bibliography
John Thompson “China and Its People in Early Photographs” Dover Publication, 2000.