Photographic artefacts of war 1904–1905: the Russo-Japanese war as transnational media event

Abstract

The Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 became a key political event of modern history, not only because its unexpected outcome caused numerous ‘global repercussions’ (Ian Nish), but because it ‘shattered the geopolitical monopoly of modernity’ (Harry Harootunian). On the other hand, the war formatted a long-neglected and historically specific photographic vision of technological warfare that persisted across national, regional and cultural borders and subsequently transformed the Russo-Japanese War into a transnational media event.