Lesson 7: To Censor or Not? The Power of War Photos

Students discuss the regulation and censorship of photographs.

(Adapted from the American Photography Teacher's Guide)

Subjects: Social Studies, Language Arts

Grade Levels: 10-12

Time Frame: 2 class periods

Materials Needed:

• Online Photo Resource

• Reference Materials

• Access to the Internet

• Word Processing Program

• Debate Questions Worksheet, Essay/Speech Assignment Worksheet

Learning Objectives: Students will:

1. Understand the power of photography.

2. Create a persuasive essay/speech about the regulation and censorship of photographs.

Procedure:

1. Choose a photo that represents a wartime event. (i.e. execution of a soldier).

2. Have students look at the photo as you review the circumstances of the historic event.

3. Give students time to work in small groups to brainstorm their reaction to the photo

• How did they feel as they saw it?

• What were their emotions as they viewed it?

• What did it make them think about?

4. The groups should share their brainstormed lists.

5. Facilitate a short discussion about the power of photographs, hitting on the idea that even though you may not know the subject personally, a photo can still have an effect on your emotions, feelings, and beliefs.

6. Have students go to the online photo resource and access photographs of war. Discuss and debate questions in regards to the photographic information. Have students relate back to what they saw and learned to support their arguments and comments.

• For variety, students could be assigned to groups and then complete the debate and discussion aspect after doing some research about the particular war they were assigned to. The research should include the gathering of photos related to their particular war.

7. Give students a copy of the essay/speech assignment worksheet.

8. Students should be prepared to share their work with the class.

Debate Questions Worksheet

• Should photographers be allowed on the front lines during war?

• Should pictures of battle scenes and casualties be released for public viewing on television, in newspapers, and in magazines?

• Is government censorship of wartime photos ever acceptable?

• Should war photos be "staged"?

• Have photos lost their "shock value"?

• Exactly how far is too far when we talk about "freedom of press"?

Essay/Speech Assignment

• Write a persuasive essay or speech that takes a stand on wartime photos and censorship issues.

• In the essay, focus on a specific war, perhaps the one researched, discussed, and debated in the earlier activity.

• Discuss what limits, if any, should have been placed on photographers, editors, publishers, and the media in general.

• Give reasons, facts, examples, and details to support your arguments for or against the censorship or close control of the wartime photos and information.

• Include a photo that you believe represents and illustrates your point of view.

• When presenting the essay, show the photo and give a bit of background about it. Then give a brief explanation of how the photo supports what you are saying.

Photography Unit

Lesson 7: To Censor or Not? The Power of War Photos

Students discuss the regulation and censorship of photographs.

The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum: The Cost of Freedom
http://www.lermuseum.org/ler/
The Cost of Freedom and Military History

Photograph Collections:
Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
http://www.civilization.ca/
Military History

Glenbow Archives Photographs
http://ww2.glenbow.org/search/archivesPhotosSearch.aspx

National Library of Canada
http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/index-e.html
From Colony to Country: A Reader's Guide to Canadian Military History

The Memory Project: Peace and War
http://www.thememoryproject.com/peace_index.cfm
http://www.thememoryproject.com/
Grant McRae's WWII Timeline and Len Badowich's Cold War Timeline

Canadian War Museum 
http://www.warmuseum.ca/
Features "Virtual War Museum" which includes photographs from Canada's wartime involvement

The Canadian Letters and Images Project 
http://www.mala.bc.ca/history/letters/
An online archive preserving Canada's photographs and other personal materials

[Top]

Lesson 1: Using Historical Photographs

Lesson 2: Using Historical Photographs 2

Lesson 3: Using Specific Historical Photographs

Lesson 4: Using Photographs to Time Travel

Lesson 5: Photographic History Timeline

Lesson 6: Manipulating Photographs

Lesson 7: To Censor or Not? The Power of War Photographs

Download Lesson 7 in Word Document format.