Photographs are mobile and malleable. They travel between people and places, change appearance and form, and traverse through different settings and environments. In image-led societies, photographs are often disrupted or removed from their original contexts to be repurposed by governments, institutions, and researchers, as well as by artists, communities, campaigners, and many others.
How, and to what ends, are these photographs being repurposed, and by whom? How does repurposing photographic materials impact social, cultural, and political phenomena? This conference aims to facilitate discussions on the reuse, recirculation, and transformation of photographs and explore the ways in which they have been re- employed in both contemporary and historical contexts.
The perceived truthfulness of photography, shaped by specific historical conditions, operates within particular institutional practices and historical frameworks (Tagg, 1988). Photography functions as a cultural tool employed for diverse representational tasks (Sekula, 1984). While museums serve as one example of institutional uses of photography, others include the press, the state, civil society, medical institutions, and technological apparatuses. For example, photographs are used to assert perceived objectivity and authority over social and cultural interpretations (Stylianou-Lambert and Stylianou, 2014); explore representations and memories of working people (Adams Stein, 2016); and support political activism (Thomas, 2021).
PhD-Focused Conference
As a PhD-led conference, the event offers an opportunity to refine and reflect upon ongoing and emerging research.
All speaker applicants must be postgraduate students (Masters and PhD) and can be at any stage of their postgraduate journey.
Papers will be 15 minutes long and can be delivered either online or in person. Practice-based presentations, such as, practical demonstrations, experiments or semi-interactive workshops, are also welcome.
Submission Topics
We encourage submissions on, but are not limited to, the repurposing of photographs in connection with:
- Exhibitions and collections in museums, archives, or galleries
- News stories on television, online, or in print media
- Interviews, focus groups, or research with vulnerable people
- Tracking changes to landscapes or human environments
- Analysis of historical events, objects, or societies
- Community initiatives or institutional practices
- The study of health issues, diseases, or medical treatments
- Examination of scientific technologies or instruments
- Promotions of ideologies or policies
- Investigations of industrial processes or techniques
- Social media content or AI systems
Speaker Application
Submit your application HERE
Submission Deadline: 30th April 2025 (GMT)
Financial Support
There are 6 travel bursaries (up to £50) and 6 accommodation bursaries (up to £70) available for non-funded student speakers living outside Leicestershire. Details on how to apply for these will be given to students confirmed as speakers.
Conference Application Webinar (FREE) – Wednesday 16th April 2025, 2- 4pm (GMT)
The organising committee will host a webinar session for students on attending and applying for conferences.
This optional session will provide guidance for students applying to and/or attending a conference for the first time.
- The purpose of conference, expected activities, and best practices for attendees;
- Creating abstracts for presentations and practice-based showcases.
Register your interest HERE by 9th April 2025.
Conference Registration Information
Please log on to: RepurposePhotos2025
Conference Hosts & Organising Committee
This conference is hosted by the Photographic History Research Centre (PHRC), De Montfort University, in collaboration with Midlands4Cities, Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK.
Organising Committee:
- Javed Sultan, Victoria Shaw, and Emma Hyde – PhD Candidates, PHRC, De Montfort University
- Jo Gane – PhD Candidate, Birmingham City University
- Daniel Rathbone – PhD Candidate, PHRC, University of Warwick
For all enquiries, email: studentphotocon2025@gmail.com
An international student-led-conference on photographic history and visual culture
When: Monday 7th – Tuesday 8th July 2025 (Two days, hybrid)
Where: De Montfort University, Leicester, UK and on Microsoft Teams.
Comments
Thank you for your comment, @Dr. David Cummings. The illustration of the picture is intended to highlight how a single photograph can change in meaning and purpose when used in different contexts and situations, which can be explored further through the conference. Indeed, the conference is tailored for current PhD and master's students to engage with and explore research and shared interests in photography and visual culture.
This conference looks educational and worthwhile. Should we note that after explaining the worth, meaning, and myriad uses of a Photograph that the masthead illustration is anything but?