My image of choice comes from Hany Farid of Dartmouth College who posted two pictures of Leon Trotsky where he appeared with other Russian officials and the very same picture where he was erased after having led a failed struggle against the rise of Joseph Stalin in the 1920s.
http://news.cnet.com/2300-1026_3-6033210-14.html?tag=mncol
The before and after photographs show how he was not only taken out of the photos but how a background was painted in his place as though no one was ever there. However, though they tried to edit him out and help themselves, they ended up helping him, and the effect of the editing was harmful to them. The erasing of Trotsky in this image is significant because though the Communist party tried to erase him from memory entirely, their efforts indicated that they truly feared the ideas he stood for. By taking him out of pictures with them, trying to eradicate any proof that he was in league with them at some point, the Communist Leaders proved their disregard for his ideas but more importantly how they considered his ideas a threat to their ideals of totalitarianism.
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It's ironic how the communists' dishonesty about their failed friendship with Trotsky doesn't hide their mistake but only displays cowardice.
ReplyDeleteYou can not run away from your past, so trying to erase someone from all the resources would never work.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and thoughtful post. So would you consider photo editing to be harmful?
ReplyDeleteI thought this picture was particularly interesting. It's amazing how closely government and other groups monitor information and media.
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting how, because they sought to eliminate Trotsky from the photograph, he is remembered for NOT being seen in them.
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