Putting representational boots on other feet: Moukarim postcards from Cameroon c 1914-15

Abstract This paper analyses a set of 28 postcards taken in Cameroon during WW1 by a photographer of Lebanese origin, one of the Moukarim brothers. It throws light on a period of Cameroonian history, on the images and their place in photographic history. The postcards that the Moukarims took canno...

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Main Author: David Zeitlyn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ISCA, University of Oxford 2024-12-01
Series:Vestiges: Traces of Record
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Online Access:https://vestiges.shox.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/vestiges/article/view/286
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author David Zeitlyn
author_facet David Zeitlyn
author_sort David Zeitlyn
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This paper analyses a set of 28 postcards taken in Cameroon during WW1 by a photographer of Lebanese origin, one of the Moukarim brothers. It throws light on a period of Cameroonian history, on the images and their place in photographic history. The postcards that the Moukarims took cannot be viewed simply as exemplifying the colonial gaze: the visual economy is more complicated than that. The images provide a lens on internationalism, lending a perspective from which to think about the complex set of actors who helped to make and to represent history. Résumé Cet article présente un ensemble de 28 cartes postales prises au Cameroun pendant la Première Guerre mondiale par un photographe d’origine libanaise, l’un des frères Moukarim. Il met en lumière une période de l’histoire camerounaise, les images et leur place dans l’histoire de la photographie. Les cartes postales prises par les Moukarim ne peuvent être considérées comme un simple exemple du regard colonial : l’économie visuelle est plus complexe que cela. Les images offrent un regard sur l’internationalisme, une perspective qui permet de réfléchir à l’ensemble complexe des acteurs qui ont contribué à faire et à représenter l’histoire.
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spelling doaj-art-43377019ab3e46e7b21588652716481f2025-08-20T02:40:56ZengISCA, University of OxfordVestiges: Traces of Record2058-19632024-12-01101Putting representational boots on other feet: Moukarim postcards from Cameroon c 1914-15 David ZeitlynAbstract This paper analyses a set of 28 postcards taken in Cameroon during WW1 by a photographer of Lebanese origin, one of the Moukarim brothers. It throws light on a period of Cameroonian history, on the images and their place in photographic history. The postcards that the Moukarims took cannot be viewed simply as exemplifying the colonial gaze: the visual economy is more complicated than that. The images provide a lens on internationalism, lending a perspective from which to think about the complex set of actors who helped to make and to represent history. Résumé Cet article présente un ensemble de 28 cartes postales prises au Cameroun pendant la Première Guerre mondiale par un photographe d’origine libanaise, l’un des frères Moukarim. Il met en lumière une période de l’histoire camerounaise, les images et leur place dans l’histoire de la photographie. Les cartes postales prises par les Moukarim ne peuvent être considérées comme un simple exemple du regard colonial : l’économie visuelle est plus complexe que cela. Les images offrent un regard sur l’internationalisme, une perspective qui permet de réfléchir à l’ensemble complexe des acteurs qui ont contribué à faire et à représenter l’histoire. https://vestiges.shox.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/vestiges/article/view/286Keywords: Cameroon, Cameroun, Kamerun, Moukarim, Lebanese, WW1, photographyMots clef: Cameroon, Cameroun, Kamerun, Moukarim, libanaise, WW1, photographie
spellingShingle David Zeitlyn
Putting representational boots on other feet: Moukarim postcards from Cameroon c 1914-15
Vestiges: Traces of Record
Keywords: Cameroon, Cameroun, Kamerun, Moukarim, Lebanese, WW1, photography
Mots clef: Cameroon, Cameroun, Kamerun, Moukarim, libanaise, WW1, photographie
title Putting representational boots on other feet: Moukarim postcards from Cameroon c 1914-15
title_full Putting representational boots on other feet: Moukarim postcards from Cameroon c 1914-15
title_fullStr Putting representational boots on other feet: Moukarim postcards from Cameroon c 1914-15
title_full_unstemmed Putting representational boots on other feet: Moukarim postcards from Cameroon c 1914-15
title_short Putting representational boots on other feet: Moukarim postcards from Cameroon c 1914-15
title_sort putting representational boots on other feet moukarim postcards from cameroon c 1914 15
topic Keywords: Cameroon, Cameroun, Kamerun, Moukarim, Lebanese, WW1, photography
Mots clef: Cameroon, Cameroun, Kamerun, Moukarim, libanaise, WW1, photographie
url https://vestiges.shox.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/vestiges/article/view/286
work_keys_str_mv AT davidzeitlyn puttingrepresentationalbootsonotherfeetmoukarimpostcardsfromcameroonc191415