Why did WHO invest in photography in 1948-1990?
This talk will focus on the photographic archives of the World Health Organization (WHO). As the quote in the title suggests, over almost half a century the WHO invested heavily in procuring photographic material and showcasing it in magazines, newspapers and at exhibitions around the world. Indeed, some of the imagery is likely familiar to the public even today, and will become more so as the WHO celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023.
But historians have been less concerned with the WHO’s output compared to other international organisations such as UNRRA, UNICEF and UNESCO. This talk will therefore consider why the WHO invested so heavily in photography; what was the material’s purpose; how campaigns were structured and managed; and ultimately what impact the WHO’s media machine had on the image of international health across the second half of the twentieth century.
Short biography
Dr. Alexander Medcalf is a lecturer in the Department of History at York University. He is a historian of visual culture, specialising in public health and medicine, marketing, and transport in the twentieth century, with a particular interest in the history of photography. His research works at the intersections between medicine, photography, mass media, and advertising. He is currently examining the eclectic negotiations which influenced how health matters and products were marketed to the public.
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What are SHEtalks
SHEtalks are a serial of informal research seminars held at Center for Sustainable Healthcare Education, University of Oslo. SHEtalks are research lunch lectures. The 2024 program was put together by researcher Gabriela Saldanha. Seminars take place at Thursdays at noon (GTM+1) unless otherwise specified. They may be delivered and attended in person or via zoom.
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