The Left Conference

International Conference
THE LEFT CONFERENCE – PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM CRITICISM


Since the late nineteenth century, the printed photograph in the media stood as a powerful tool for denouncing social injustice and claiming better life conditions – i.e. as seen in the work of Jacob Riis, Lewis Hine, or Joshua Benoliel, among many others. In the early decades of the twentieth century the use of images had a significant boost with film, when directors such as Flaherty, Eisenstein, John Grierson, Vertov, Dvorjenko or Ivens, combining documental intentions with avant-garde experimental claims, made possible to discuss political and historical conditions. The aim of the conference is to discuss and debate photographs and film as a social tool from a leftist stance. In particular, to examine and explore the relation of documentary practices and political commitment in different historical circumstances throughout the twentieth and the twenty first centuries. The seminar/conference together with a film projection program will take place at Cinemateca Portuguesa in Lisbon on November 16-18 2017. Keynote speakers
Gail Day (University of Leeds)
Steve Edwards (Birbeck College)

Conference Venue & Dates
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of NOVA University of Lisbon
Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade de Lisboa / Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon.