Response to Larry Sultan by Catherine Liu Bomb Magazine Interview

History of photo 1- Larry sultan, by Catherine Liu bomb magazine
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In Larry Sultan‘s interview by Catherine Liu, Sultan acknowledges that his family’s photographs in the suburbia may not be different from many other families (Liu, 1990). Liu also agrees on this observation despite growing up in a different location in the U.S. Photography helps to represent the past, with family photography helping to chronicle one’s family history regardless of the persons who take the snapshot. Since photography captures both people and their surroundings, the depiction of the suburban life also shows the changes in the society. This is especially the changes in class and the consumer culture. Family photography not only provides traces of history but also the memory, whereby the time and locations of the photography need to be chosen.
Sultan traces the family history combining the vintage film footage as well as snapshots to provide clearer meaning on his family ties. Life in Suburbia provides the bulk of Sultan’s inspiration chronicling his family history. Art photography can help people better understand their identity, highlighting the value of family photographs. Even when one has no specific recollections archiving family photographs gives a chronological progression on family life, helping to bridge gaps between the known and unknown. Surroundings and context give meaning to photography, and this is apparent for snapshots depicting different facets of family life over time. Art photography captures family history and the family members’ self- expression.
In depicting family life in the suburban settings, the depictions have often been generic and shallow as they ignore the complexities that define different families. L...