Explore the power of photography at the MFA’s newest exhibition

SHAYNA: LIFE MAGAZINE AND THE POWER OF PHOTOGRAPHY, A NEW EXHIBIT PRESENTED BY THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM. >> THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT THE WEEKLY PICTURE MAGAZINE FROM 1936 TO 1972. SHAYNA: THE EXHIBITION OFFERS A SNAPSHOT INTO MANY OF THE MAGAZINE MOST RECOGNIZABLE IMAGES, SAYS THE SENIOR CURATOR OF PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE MFA. >> YOU CAN SEE NOTES WRITTEN BY PHOTOGRAPHERS AND REPORTERS, AND WHAT ALL THIS TELLS US IS PHOTOJOURNALISM IN THE 20TH CENTURY WAS A COLLABORATIVE ENTERPRISE. SHAYNA: AMONG THE MORE THAN 30 PHOTOGRAPHERS WHOSE WORKS ARE FEATURED IS MARGARET BOURKE WHITE, WHOSE IMAGE OF FORT PECK DAM LANDED ON THE COVER OF THE FIRST ISSUE OF LIFE. >> SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FOUR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ONE OF THE ONLY WOMEN IN THE EARLY YEARS. SHAYNA: IN 1948, ORDEN PARK PROPOSED A PHOTO ESSAY TO THE MAGAZINE ABOUT HARLEM GANG WARS. >> HE WOULD PHOTOGRAPH RED JACKSON, THE HEAD OF A GANG. HE WENT INTO HIS HOME AND PHOTOGRAPHED HIM WITH HIS MOTHER AND SHOWS A VERY SENSITIVE PORTRAYAL OF FRED JACKSON, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN IMAGES ONE WOULD IMAGINE OF A GANG LEADER. IT WAS AFTER PITCHING THAT STORY THAT LIFE HIRED GORDON PARKS AS A STAFF DOG RIVER. SHAYNA: THE EXHIBIT IS DESIGNED IN THREE HISTORICAL SECTIONS, WHICH REFLECT THE MAGAZINES ROLE IN SHAPING WAR, RACE, AND NATIONAL IDENTITY. >> THIS MAGAZINE WAS CREATED FOR PREDOMINANTLY A WHITE, MIDDLE-CLASS AUDIENCE. WE THINK ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE SHAPED. IN THE EXHIBITION WE SHOW NOTES AND OTHER THINGS TO SHOW THE DISPARITY BETWEEN TEXT AND IMAGE. SHAYNA: IN BETWEEN THE SECTIONS, WORKS BY THREE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS. LIFE MAGAZINE AND THE POWER OF PHOTOGRAPHY ON DISPLAY THROUGH MID-2023. FINALLY TONIGHT, WE HAD A BLAST HERE AT THE HOLIDAY MARKET. IT WILL BE OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER 30 1, 7 DAYS A WEEK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS DAY, AND DECEMBER 26. THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE AND ENJOY. I AM SHAYNA SEYMOUR. ANTHONY, BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO. ANTHONY: SHAYNA HAS BEEN SINGING CHRISTMAS SONGS FOR A MONTH ALREADY. GET OUT OF THE COLD NOW AND ENJOY SOMETHING WARM TO DRINK. THAT IS CHRONICLED TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I AM ANTHONY EVERETT. HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW

Explore the power of photography at the MFA’s newest exhibition

Decades of Life Magazine’s publications are on display, which spark deep thought about the past and future

Updated: 8:30 PM EST Nov 16, 2022

Life Magazine and the Power of Photography: A new exhibit presented by the Museum of Fine Arts Boston in partnership with Princeton University Art Museum.

NEEDHAM, Mass. —

Life Magazine and the Power of Photography: A new exhibit presented by the Museum of Fine Arts Boston in partnership with Princeton University Art Museum.