Bibliography: Photo narrative today

Abstract

Abstract The following bibliography is not exhaustive. Its aims are twofold: first, to introduce some of the most important modern creative work published in France, Britain and the USA; and second, to present a substantial survey of recent theoretical writing and criticism about the photo narrative, with particular emphasis on photo fiction. The critical work available reveals that historical research in the field is extremely scarce. A comprehensive history of photo narrative has yet to be written. Such a work would embrace all forms of photo narrative, irrespective of their function or destined audience. Of necessity, it would trace the recurrent use of photographic sequences from the early work of Muybridge and Marcy to contemporary experiments. Modern photo narrative often exhibits characteristics found in earlier work, such as the sequentially organized American Photographs by Walker Evans and the picture stories that begin to appear in the 1930s. New tendencies are nevertheless apparent, notably the disruption of traditional forms, the juxtaposition of fact and fiction, and the use of autobiographical material.