I grabbed a copy of this at Foyles before moving from London and have lost track if any subsequent issues were released. I have to say, for me at least, considering the very dark subject matter, the most pricking photograph in here is by Martin Parr, as what ends up exposed, per his usual flash-soaked garish images, is not only the banality of war, but at times, the vulgarity of some of the freedoms that it purportedly defends.
Details below:
A Brief Visual History in the Time of ISIS by Magnum Photographers
Curator's note by Peter van Agtmael
This is the first in an occasional series of publications entitled “Magnum Chronicles.” History and how we interpret it is constantly in flux, but there are moments that demand thoughtful reflection without expectation of definitiveness. Magnum Chronicles allows us to react to critical issues with a timeliness that is difficult in a full length book.
The rise and seeming fall of the Islamic State is the most recent chapter in an era of unraveling in the Middle East. ISIS has captured the world’s attention in a way that decades of colonialism, authoritarianism and the external meddling from both regional and global powers have not. Without minimizing the impact of their crimes on millions of people, this work seeks to place ISIS in the context of the long view of history.
Magnum photographers have been documenting conflict, politics and social issues throughout the world with depth and nuance for more than seventy years. The work of nineteen photographers takes us from the final years of the French mandate in Syria in 1941 to the fall of Mosul in 2017. Peter Harling, an expert on the region, contributes a pointed essay and timeline. While there is much left to say, we hope that this work provides perspective with layers of complexity that are often lacking.
magnumphotos.com
