With each new class of students, Rice University introduces a Common Reading – a literary work that covers a wide range of interests and serves to unite the community by promoting conversation, action, and understanding. A campus committee of students, faculty, and staff work to find a text that is relevant and relatable to for students at Rice. All new students will receive a copy of the book during the summer and should have it read before arriving on campus for O-Week. The selection for 2014 is Photography as Activism – Images for Social Change by Michelle Bogre.  

“In Photography as Activism, Michelle Bogre discusses the philosophy and history of photography’s role in social reform. Beginning with the invention of the camera, Bogre traces the earliest instances of photographic activism through to today’s emerging practices, profiling the most prominent activists of their time and their legendary images. Also profiled are contemporary photographer activists, including Jonathan Torgovnik…. His photographs spread awareness of the consequences of genocide and sexual violence, and have helped Foundation Rwanda (www.foundationrwanda.org) raise more than a million dollars to fund secondary school education for the children. Other activist photographers featured in this book include: Eugene Richards, Marcus Bleasdale, Tom Stoddary, Edward Kashi, Brent Stirton, Stephen Dupont, and Walter Astrada.

With an appendix featuring additional websites, magazines, galleries, festivals, foundations, grants, and advice for the budding activist, this book is not only a comprehensive study of activist photography, but also a call to action for photographers with a cause.”   ―Book Jacket

About the Author

Michelle Bogre has a unique background that combines her passion and work in photography, education, and copyright law. She has served as a faculty member at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. Her photography has graced the pages of Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, and many other publications. The National Archives in Washington, D.C. has also showcased her work and permanently house two of her pieces.