Multimodal Presentation
- Alexandra Krasner
- Apr 6, 2025
- 2 min read
Part 1
Synopsis
For my multimodal presentation, I chose to explore the work of Dorothea Lange, a pioneering American documentary photographer best known for her iconic image, Migrant Mother, during the Great Depression. Lange’s photography focused on the struggles of the American people during times of hardship, especially the poor, displaced, and working-class communities. Her work for the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s powerfully combined art and activism, raising awareness of the human cost of economic collapse. The photographs I chose to present include portraits of migrant workers, mothers, and families living through extreme poverty. Her ability to capture raw emotion through candid, thoughtful composition has made a lasting impact on how we document social issues. Lange’s photographs are not just historical records; they are emotionally resonant stories that speak to the dignity, strength, and vulnerability of her subjects. I created this presentation to highlight how her work shaped photojournalism and continues to influence modern storytelling through images.
Dorothea Lange’s work showed me that photography has the power to change public opinion and inspire action. Before studying her, I mostly viewed photography as a creative outlet. Now, I understand it as a tool for social justice and advocacy. Lange didn’t just take photos, she gave a voice to the voiceless. Her images taught me that the emotional and human context behind a photograph is just as important as its visual elements. I now see photography as a form of visual storytelling that can raise awareness, create empathy, and even influence policy. Her work has inspired me to think about how my photography and how it can have meaning beyond aesthetics.
Part 2:
Link to Flavia Moore's presentation and blog post:
Hi Flavia,
I really enjoyed your presentation on Mary Ellen Mark. It grabbed my attention! I especially liked how you included detailed descriptions of her biography, which gave great context to who she is as a photographer. Your breakdown of Facile Road was also very compelling. I appreciated the backstory you provided; without it, I wouldn’t have understood the depth behind the image just by looking at it. It was fascinating to learn that this is one of her few photos using high-saturation color. You did an excellent job explaining the purpose behind each photograph, which really captivated me and drew me into the story behind the images. Great job!



Hi Alex, your video was great in sharing the work of Dorothea Lange. Seeing her photography helped me understand the emotional depth behind her images, especially how she captured the hardship, aftermath of war, and economic crisis during the Great Depression. I really liked how you connected her work to the historical context and it gave her photos even more meaning.
Hi, Alex, I think your presentation was very well done. I appreciate how you offered background on Lange and the time that she was photographing. The photos you chose evoked a strong emotion of sadness and desperation that I think Lange was trying to accomplish.
Hi Alex, I really enjoyed your presentation. You clearly mentioned how your photographer choice used ethically evaluative photography, tying in Chapter 4 of Criticizing photography. The photos you chose do a great job of showing the range of your photographer and help me understand how ethically evaluative can change public opinion.