Untitled (people dressed as king, queen, and court) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by C. Bennette Moore depicting people dressed as royalty. The image feels performative, theatrical. What do you make of it? Curator: The context surrounding this image is key. Consider where it might have been displayed and who the audience was. Was it intended for a specific community or a wider public? The staging suggests a constructed narrative. Editor: So, is the power dynamic of royalty and court subverted, or celebrated? Curator: It depends on the intention and the viewer’s interpretation within their socio-political landscape. Recognizing the public role of photography helps us understand how such images function. Editor: That's true, I guess images can function in many different ways. Curator: Exactly! And it's our job to interpret how they do.