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2.1: Photographic Origins of Mugshots and Facial Recognition - Introduction to Chapter Readings and Videos

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    316553
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    Your Readings

    The first couple readings assigned for this chapter explore two of the pseudosciences that were prominent in the late 19th century (1800s): physiognomy and phrenology.

    The other two, both from Smarthistory, explore some of the ways photography as a medium was employed to give pseudoscientific processes the impression of having a scientific foundation. Both Francis Galton and Alphonse Bertillon developed methods of using photography that still have implications on our lives today, particularly in terms of mugshots along with facial recognition and profiling.

    • Does knowing the origins of some of these methodologies shape our understanding of or opinions about their uses today?
    1. "Physiognomy: The Beautiful Science" from Getty: The Iris and by Sarah Waldorf
    2. "Algorithms Associating Appearance and Criminality Have a Dark Past" from Aeon and by Sally Davies
      • You may republish this article online or in print under our Creative Commons licence. Additionally, we permit oral recordings or translation of Ideas into languages other than English. In all cases, you may not edit or shorten the text, you must attribute the article to Aeon and you must include the author’s name in your republication.
    3. "Francis Galton, Eugenics, and Photography" from Smarthistory and by Dr. Kris Belden-Adams
    4. "Alphonse Bertillon, Mugshot and Record of Francis Galton" from Smarthistory and by Dr. Kris Belden-Adams

    Content Warning

    Please note that images depicting historical events may contain themes or include verbal descriptions which do not reflect current understandings of topics like race, gender, sexuality, (dis)ability status, and religious diversity. These are provided in a historical context.

    Racist caricatures are included in some of this chapter's readings.