Travelling by the Underwood Travel System - Stereographs, Guide-Books Patent Map System 1908

Editor: Here we have Underwood & Underwood’s "Travelling by the Underwood Travel System - Stereographs, Guide-Books Patent Map System", a photograph from 1908, residing at The Art Institute of Chicago. The image seems to depict a well-to-do man engrossed in travel materials. How would you interpret this work, considering its historical context? Curator: This piece is fascinating because it presents travel as an immersive experience, mediated by technology. The stereoscope was not merely a tool but a portal, particularly for those who might not have the opportunity for physical travel due to socio-economic constraints. Consider how this technology intersects with notions of accessibility, privilege, and even the shaping of cultural perspectives through curated imagery. The man's pose – the studious posture, the map spread before him – suggests a quest for knowledge, but is that quest equally available to everyone? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. It highlights the power dynamics inherent in who gets to experience the world, even virtually. Did the Underwood Travel System perpetuate existing biases or power structures in any way? Curator: Absolutely. Think about whose stories were being told, whose cultures were being represented, and from what vantage point. Stereographs, while seemingly objective, were produced within a specific cultural framework. They can tell us a great deal about the gaze of the early 20th century, about what was deemed ‘exotic’ or ‘interesting’ by a Western audience. By analyzing these images critically, we can unearth hidden layers of colonial narratives. Editor: So, while appearing as a simple depiction of travel, the photograph also opens up questions about representation and access to knowledge. Thank you; I am viewing it differently now. Curator: Indeed. And remembering that technology always operates within a social context gives us greater critical power.