Η συμβολή του φωτορεπορτάζ στη γνώση της ιστορίας εν τη γενέσει της: από τον πόλεμο του Βιετνάμ μέχρι την προσφυγική κρίση του 2015 ; The contribution of photojournalism to the understanding of history in the making: from the Vietnam war to the 2015 refugee crisis

The aim of this thesis is to bring to the fore the work of contemporary photojournalists in Greece and the world, highlighting how - through the current news photographs that flood us daily - the public acquires a direct perception of history as it is being written. Considering it necessary to refer to important historical events that functioned as milestones in the evolution of both the photographic medium and the photographic gaze, the emphasis is placed on the work produced from the middle of the 20th century until the refugee and migration crisis of 2015-2016. Starting with the Vietnam War and all that this moment in history signaled for news photography, its reception by the general public and its overall impact, the analysis focuses on the work of selected photojournalists at different times and historical contexts. In this way, the aim is to show the evolution of the photographers' view of the world and the public's acceptance of their work. The rapid development of technology and the media of communication and transmission - without being examined separately - nevertheless constantly emerges as a decisive factor in the testimonies of the photographers themselves or of those analysing their work. The last stop on this journey is the refugee and migration crisis of 2015-2016, a context that serves two important purposes: on the one hand, it was the starting point for redefinitions in terms of the depiction not only of people but also of objects, elevating symbolism to a key element of the work produced; on the other hand, it is an excellent chapter in the work of Greek photojournalists that - due to their geographical and linguistic advantage - was abundant, interesting, published in international media and awarded the most important prize of press professionals, the Pulitzer Prize in 2016.In navigating the thesis between different points in time and place and the photographic work that captured the events, some theoretical approaches are not ignored, sometimes rewarding and sometimes questioning - to the ...