Politics

As would be expected, the category of Politics is one of the most important from a perspective of volume (it consists of 4,432 photographs) and of subject matter variety. It is divided into two subcategories (Greece and International), which in turn are divided into 14 smaller sections. The criteria for this categorisation are chronological and thematic. As regards Greece, the established division of modern Greek history was adhered to (Post-war period, Dictatorship, Regime change), while three sections were added that were very broadly covered by photojournalism (the worker/student movement, the anti-dictatorship struggle, and terrorism). We decided to divide the International subcategory material based on the geographic and thematic criteria we meet in news reporting (America, Africa, the Middle East, etc.). Obviously, some of the telephotographs might meet criteria of more than one category or subcategory; such as those that are related to the Vietnam war (they could belong to the Asia or Cold War sub-series, or the Army category). In such cases, more attention was paid to the content of the photograph and the intention of the photographer (depicting the intensity and horror of war or emphasising political developments).

As the concept of history is to this day closely intertwined with the political development of a country, we can claim that this specific thematic section, more than any other, is part of the documentation/photography category, in the sense that these photographs record history, while they are also representations of events. Their value, therefore, is double, both as sources and simultaneous manufacturers of history. Besides, it is for that reason that political photographs are still the most widely circulated in photojournalism. They not only depict political life; they also shape it. In photographers’ most inspired moments, this depiction echoes the deeper spirit and truth of a historical moment; while in a worst-case scenario they merely act as propaganda.