Sarah Lewis takes to The Hub stage at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival, analysing the power of culture as a means of justice rather than by law in her talk The Unseen Truth. Lewis is an art historian and Associate Professor of the Humanities and African American studies at Harvard University, leading the popular course, Vision and Justice: The Art of Race and American Citizenship.
Discussing ideas from her book of the same title (The Unseen Truth: When Race Changed Sight in America) Lewis delves into the historical misrepresentation of people of colour in America and focuses on those who combated this misrepresentation, most notably the work of abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) and photographer Dorothea Lange (1895-1965). Lewis explores Douglass’ interest in the photograph with the idea that unlike words, the photograph cannot be manipulated. Photography was often used to dehumanise and objectify people of colour, using photos as propaganda and in case studies of a eugenic nature that claimed that the white race was superior to any other. Douglass instead had dignified and intentional portraits of himself taken in an effort to oppose this dehumanisation, leading Douglass to become the most photographed man in the 19th century. Lewis also mentions Douglass’ affiliation with Scotland, with a number of his speeches being delivered in Edinburgh – a perfect tie-in to the Festival.
The content which Lewis has chosen to draw from aligns perfectly with the maxim of this year’s International Festival, “the truth we seek”. Lewis emphasises the importance of art as it expresses truths authentically and tactically. Using Lange as an example, Lewis brings to light the portraits that the American government commissioned Lange in 1942 to take in an effort to document the internment camps that were used to house Japanese people. After the government saw Lange’s photos, which depicted the Japanese people in a light that was not favorable towards the government, the images were censored and only this millennium have been released. Censorship would not be necessary if art did not hold some kind of power.
Being hosted by theatre practitioner Travis Alabanza, a Q&A was led post-lecture with some very poignant and thoughtful questions being asked by Alabanza. The point that really piqued my interest was Alabanzas questioning of artificial intelligence’s involvement in art and the image; can a photo still be fact if it is at risk of artificial manipulation – is the truth we see in the image still authentic?
Engaging, interesting, and of the utmost importance, Lewis’ lecture was delivered in a way that was accessible to all yet could still be deeply analysed – every individual in the room had something to learn from Lewis, nothing was diminished. I believe that Lewis is such an important speaker because she educates in a way which leaves the audience thirsting for more knowledge, connecting to the audience not only with information but heartfelt anecdotes that resonate and actualise the material she discusses. My basic summary of the event doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of Lewis’ work – I will most certainly be delving further into these topics, and the findings Lewis has taken away from them.
Reviewer: Jessie Martin
Reviewed: 18th August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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