Electronic equipment, NBC TV studio--Burbank, California c. 1955 - 1956

Editor: Here we have Robert Frank's photograph "Electronic equipment, NBC TV studio--Burbank, California" taken around 1955 or 1956. It's a black and white image, filled with complex machinery and tangled wires. The scale is impressive; it looks almost like a fortress of technology. What do you see in this piece beyond the surface level? Curator: What strikes me is the simultaneous celebration and critique of technology's burgeoning influence during the mid-20th century. The image comes at a key moment in American culture, the rise of television broadcasting. Frank's photograph frames television, not as a window onto the world but as an immense, intimidating, and complex machine. Consider the Cold War context, with the space race and arms race also driven by technology, also veiled by complex and often classified technical processes. This view asks who holds the key to all that machinery. Editor: So, are you saying this image has political undertones? It's not just about documenting technology? Curator: Precisely. Frank, known for his critical lens on American society, is likely commenting on power structures. Who controls the information, the broadcast, and the narrative presented to the public? The scale and almost impenetrable complexity of the equipment suggest that this power is not easily accessible or transparent. I think this fits perfectly with how many high modernist works expressed themselves during this period. They really reveled in machinery while often expressing concern that it can easily run away from you. Editor: That’s a great point. I was focused on the visual aspect and didn’t immediately consider its social implications. The date makes much more sense now. Curator: What's interesting too, is how a lot of modern and contemporary art is involved in creating and capturing media with sophisticated equipment. And, what that equipment is saying. Editor: It really does make you consider the relationship between technology, power, and visual culture. Thanks, that was enlightening. Curator: And, hopefully it helps listeners consider who holds the broadcast keys today!