Conflict in Images and Words: War Photographers As Storytellers

Throughout history, war photography has played a pivotal role in communicating to the general public what is happening in conflicts around the world.  Their images expose the horrors of armed conflict to civilians;  many photographers put themselves in harm’s way as they record the reality of war, and try to report it back to the rest of us.

In his introduction to the book of interviews with war photographers, photojournalist  Michael Kamber notes “Photographers are storytellers; most love to talk.” 

This illustrated presentation by photographer and philologist Joanna Madloch  juxtaposes photographic works of the most prominent war correspondents with their memoirs and interviews. 

Joanna will present topics war correspondents discuss in their writing, including the importance and impact of their job, its side-effects, moral doubts, and, most importantly, how they survive war and conflict assignments.  She will focus on the photographers’ opinions on war itself, moral questions their work creates, as well as their concept of purpose of their incredibly dangerous and difficult mission.

Joanna holds a PhD in humanities from University of Silesia in Poland and taught literature and photography both in the US and in Poland. She specializes in street photography and in her work she explores the notion of the border and the act of its crossing. She has exhibited her work in the US,  Europe, and Australia.  She has published over 30 academic articles and works on a manuscript about the image of the photographer in literature.  

 This program is open to all and does not need registration.