Untitled (trainer holding whip with two lions in cage) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have Jack Gould's Untitled photograph of a trainer with a whip and two lions in a cage. The reversal of tones gives it a ghostly feel. What does this image evoke for you? Curator: I see a stark visual representation of power dynamics. How does the trainer's pose, wielding the whip, speak to the historical context of animal exploitation and the subjugation of the non-human? Editor: It makes me think about the history of circuses and the ethics of keeping wild animals captive for entertainment. Curator: Exactly. And consider how the image, even in its ghostly form, reflects broader societal structures of control and domination based on race, gender, and class. Editor: I see what you mean. It's disturbing to think about the connections between these different forms of oppression. Curator: Indeed. It challenges us to consider the complex interplay between humanity and the natural world, and to question the systems that perpetuate inequality. Editor: I will definitely think more deeply about the social contexts surrounding this photograph from now on. Curator: And hopefully, use that understanding to advocate for a more just and equitable world.