Defectives, Feeble-minded: United States. Massachusetts. Waverly. School for Feeble-minded: Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded. c. 1903

Editor: This is a photographic print by William A. Webster, titled "Defectives, Feeble-minded: United States. Massachusetts. Waverly. School for Feeble-minded: Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded." The composition, a grid of gymnasium scenes, feels both clinical and unsettling. What symbols or historical echoes do you see embedded in this image? Curator: The repeated scenes of regimented exercise evoke the visual language of control and order, a cultural symbol of the eugenics movement and its focus on physical "improvement". The gymnasium itself, repeated across each frame, becomes a symbol of institutionalization, a space where difference is managed and bodies are disciplined. What do you feel is the emotional impact of these combined symbols? Editor: I think they make the image oppressive, reflecting the painful history of institutionalization and the biases of that era. It's a stark reminder of the power dynamics at play. Curator: Precisely. These echoes are not merely historical; they resonate with contemporary debates about normalcy, ability, and the very nature of human value.