Photography and the deportation of Ottoman Armenians during the first World War

Abstract

This thesis examines the photographic archive of the deportation of Ottoman Armenians during the First World War. The central objective of the thesis is to approach the photographs in question not solely as historiographical tools standing in as evidence for the truth of the event, or representing the totality of it, but in the comprehension of photography’s affective power and persuasive capacity, that could enhance the understanding of trauma and memory of the Catastrophe. Through this intention, it uncovers the connection amid different sources to demonstrate that the evidential value of photography played a crucial role in representation, memory and remembrance. In this regard, through examining the dissemination and circulation of these photographs in the European and American press, it aims to comprehend the capacity of photography that is effectively used for propaganda and the legitimization of violence. The diplomatic correspondence between the German vice consul of Erzurum, the German embassy of Istanbul and the local authorities, as well as third hand and victim testimonies provide a historical context for the analysis of the photographs from the deportations in Erzurum. As these photographs were rarely utilized for the representation of the deportations, this thesis explores the problems of conventional aesthetic standards in iconic representation and suggests to look at these images through a theoretical conception of time and death for a wider understanding of its connection to the Catastrophe.