by: Henry Pacheco-Cruz
Robert Coles is an American author, psychiatrist, and professor. He is widely known for his work in the field of psychology, literature, and social justice. However, he is best known for his contributions to the study of children and their emotional, and moral development. In the context of documentary work, Robert Coles has emphasized what he calls the “two fold struggle.” This concept refers to the challenges and responsibilities faced by documentary writers and photographers as they engage with their subjects and document their stories.
“I say that we can at least offer that to this kind of research, this doing of documentary work: our willingness to put ourselves on the line in this way, our willingness to indicate that the documentarian, the listener and the one who sees, the witness, can be both a vehicle and an obstacle on a journey.”
Chapter 1 p. 43
The Ethical Struggle involves the responsibility of documentarians to engage with their subjects in a genuine and empathetic manner, even if it means exposing themselves to emotional and ethical challenges. Documentarians must also navigate ethical dilemmas, such as obtaining informed consent, respecting the dignity and privacy of subjects, and ensuring that the portrayal is fair and respectful. Cole mentions the roles of documentarians as “witnesses” highlighting the ethical role in bearing witness to the lives and stories of individuals.
The Aesthetic Struggle involves making choices about how to frame the narrative, selecting images or footage, and present the story in a compelling and engaging way. This creative process can be challenging as it requires balancing artistic expression with the responsibility to accurately represent reality. Cole alludes to this aesthetic aspect of documentary work in the quote above referencing “the documentarian, the listener, and the one who sees.” The duality of shaping the narrative is brought up by Cole when he mentions “a vehicle and an obstacle on a journey” as documentarians can serve as a vehicle for conveying the subjects’ experience, but may also unintentionally become an obstacle if their own biases or perspectives overshadow the story.
“New York, New York. 61st Street between 1st and 3rd Avenues. Children playing in the street” by Walker Evans.
Evans’ approach to documentary photography aligns with the idea that documentary work is not only about storytelling but also about capturing the essence of conscious human experiences, preserving cultural experiences , and documenting the passage of time. Evans capturing unscripted moments of people going about their daily lives provides a window into the conscious experiences of individuals, allowing viewers to connect with he subjects on a human level. We can also note that this documentary work is capturing the changing nature of society, highlighting the human nature of evolution. This image serves as a visual record of what was, preserving moments in time that might otherwise be forgotten. Overall it this work emphasizes the power of visual storytelling in conveying the complexities of life and society.
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