Final Synthesis

Research Question:
How has American culture has been influenced by photography through the years?

Thesis:
Over the years, photography has evolved into an art, a news form, and just a simple way to capture a moment. All with a click of a button. While it has evolved, it has influenced how people see themselves as well as how people present themselves to others

Synthesis Paragraph:
As ways of connecting have expanded, so has the sharing of photos.  In an article from Jrank,the author, Gretchen Garner, is a photographer who decided to dive into the history of where all of the photographic luxuries we have today. She explained how magazines, advertisements, and social media have connected the cultures around the world. A downside of the culture expansion is body standards. In an article on Education.com, which is an education website for homeschooled children, highlights the startling effects that social media has had on people’s body image, specifically girls. The high standards that have been created for girls to be skinny caused drastically awful effects such as anorexia, bulimia, and over exercising. Looking back to the roots of photography, an article from Khan Academy  describes the evolution of photography since the mid 19th century. Photography first began as a costly and exclusive hobby, and when Kodak released the brownie camera, the hobby was available to the general population. Soon photography evolved into an art form, seeking to be displayed in museums alongside the great works of painters and sculptors alike. Lastly, PewResearchCenter published an article which explained how photos have been taking over the modern media and news. They provide proof of events, supports people’s arguments, and they show how words truly speak one thousand words. In conclusion, photography has truly affected American modern culture very much. It set the social norms, shared people’s ideas, and has provided photographic evidence of events small and large.