Baja California, Mexico after 1956

Editor: This is "Baja California, Mexico" by Martin Karplus. It’s a photograph in the Harvard Art Museums collection, and I’m struck by the children’s expressions. What can you tell me about the image's cultural context? Curator: Note how the photograph presents a stark contrast between the children and the rudimentary background. This image arguably participates in a long tradition of representing poverty and childhood in the developing world. Editor: So, the photograph isn't just a neutral depiction? Curator: Exactly. The framing, the children's clothes, and even the composition contribute to a specific narrative about life in Baja California. What kind of statement could it be making? Editor: I guess it highlights social disparities. I hadn’t thought about it that way. Curator: Exactly, and it’s important to consider how the image might be interpreted differently depending on the viewer’s own background. Editor: This really makes me think about the ethics of representation. Thanks!