Images as scientific documents in Swedish race biology : two practices

• Introduction. During the early period of Swedish ‘race biology’, photography was extensively used in the practice of this pseudoscience. Later on, photographs were discarded and other pictorial techniques applied. This change in pictorial technique coincided with changes in the disciplinary practice of ‘race biology’. Method. Comparative image analysis. Analysis. Two pictures, exemplifying the two periods, are compared and analysed with reference to functional theories of scientific images as instrumental in institutional practices. Results. Swedish ‘race biology’ was a project ostensibly aimed at recording physiognomic traits of Swedish ‘racial types’. But the photographs of the early period depict much more. Redundant information was used to bias data to reflect ideological assumptions: irrelevant aspects like lighting, surroundings, props and clothes were used to portray Nordic ‘racial types’ as superior. When ‘race biology’ changed direction and the existence of racial differences began to be denied, pictorial rhetoric and techniques also changed and photographs depicting human ‘racial types’ were no longer in demand. Conclusion. Shifting theories and objectives of scientific practice affect tools and methods. When images are part of scientific practice, imaging techniques and rhetoric change as disciplines develop.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Annan humaniora (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Other Humanities (hsv//eng)

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