Conventions of Photography as Means of Social and Technological Critiques

Publication Date

4-20-2026

Authors

• Ava Lannery, University of New Hampshire, Durham

Abstract

Ava is a Communication major with a specification in Business Applications. She’s an Irish dual citizen from Newton, MA.

This piece looks  at how photography can be used as a form of Social and technological critique. Through Mark Peterson’s ICE’s Spectacle of Intimidation and Jack Latham’s Beggars Honey, this essay argues that photographers can manipulate composition, technology to create deeper meanings about power, style, social stage agency, immigration enforcement, and modern digital manipulation. Ultimately, this writing piece shows how photography depends on audience context and literacy to be fully understood. 

Recommended Citation

Lannery, Ava (2026) "Conventions of Photography as Means of Social and Technological Critiques," Comm-entary: Vol. 22: Iss. 1, Article 10.
Available at: https://scholars.unh.edu/comm-entary/vol22/iss1/10