The photography potential as a historical source in studying the nomadic peoples of Asia visual representations

The article describes the logic of old archival photographic documents analysis in order to study the features of the visual representation of the Asia nomadic peoples in imperial Russia (using the example of the Oirat-Kalmyks). The study follows from the question of how the transition to a sedentary lifestyle and integration with the social majority (Russians) is reflected in the everyday life elements, clothing, bodily practices of nomadic people and how this transition can be recorded in visual documents of the corresponding historical period. Thus the developed design of the empirical study includes the formulation of tasks that contribute to the goal achievement, the specification of the object and subject, which as a result allows us to build an algorithm for a comprehensive analysis of archival photographs, postcards and illustrations depicting representatives of nomadic peoples from the middle of the imperial period in Russia. This algorithm can be applied to solve other similar research problems on a similar array of visual data. The article outlines the main problems and limitations of historical visual documents analysis, as well as suggests possible solutions. The problem of the authenticity of visual documents, in particular, mass-media photographs, is solved by the perception and analysis of them not only as material witnesses of the era, but also as instruments of public consciousness manipulation, and in this case, the implementation of modernization policies in relation to nomadic peoples as such. An important aspect of the analysis here is both the photograph itself and the intentions of its author, the context of publication and use. The problem of the multiplicity of disparate visual documents is solved by an attempt to typologize them and search for a canon of visual representation in the context under consideration. The problem of difficulties in deciphering visual signs in individual photographs is solved by using iconographic and iconological approaches to interpretation, as well as conducting photo-revealing interviews with specially selected experts. Thank you for the photo materials provided by the collector S.Yu. Stepanov. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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