The Careful Photograph: Zora J Murff

Zora J Murff is a photographer and educator based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Murff joined us to talk about a photograph called "American Father" from his upcoming series "American Mother, American Father" Zora's work grows out of his conviction that "we need to acknowledge each other, because largely, the world does not acknowledge us." We end up talking about family portraiture, systemic diversity, and "making work in the absence of light," in the words of Theaster Gates. You can see the photograph at thecarefulphotograph.com/zora-j-murff and see more of Zora's work at http://www.zora-murff.com/.

Om Podcasten

“The Careful Photograph” features the voices of photographers of color who are challenging, subverting, and highlighting some of the problems and paradoxes of the photographic medium in our current moment. In each episode we focus our conversation on a single photograph by the artist. From there, I try to let the artist shape the conversation, and what has emerged are nine episodes (so far) that can be used as a teaching tool, or a course in itself about how to look at photographs and look “with care.” Each episode ends with a praxis assignment, visual exercise, or creative prompt for students or listeners. I am looking forward to sharing them with you. “The Careful Photograph” is made possible by the MCSI at Pitzer College. As Director of the Monroe Center for Social inquiry this public podcast will serve as a companion to my MCSI course offering, “Photography and the Racialized Body,” a course which stems from my own long engagement with questions of identity, the body, and the history of photography and race in America.