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The Undead Reflection Paper

The document is a reflection paper on the essay "The Undead" by Vicente Rafael. It discusses how Rafael analyzes the origins and use of photography in the Philippines during the colonial period. Rafael explains how photography was used as a tool for colonial powers like America to control and classify the native population. Specifically, photographs were taken to distinguish social classes and portray transformations of natives over time. The paper also examines controversial photos of dead Filipino bodies from battles that were displayed without consent or context. Overall, the reflection analyzes how Rafael illustrates how photography shaped understandings of identity and history during Philippine colonialism.

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Kyla Manzanares
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167 views

The Undead Reflection Paper

The document is a reflection paper on the essay "The Undead" by Vicente Rafael. It discusses how Rafael analyzes the origins and use of photography in the Philippines during the colonial period. Rafael explains how photography was used as a tool for colonial powers like America to control and classify the native population. Specifically, photographs were taken to distinguish social classes and portray transformations of natives over time. The paper also examines controversial photos of dead Filipino bodies from battles that were displayed without consent or context. Overall, the reflection analyzes how Rafael illustrates how photography shaped understandings of identity and history during Philippine colonialism.

Uploaded by

Kyla Manzanares
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Manzanares 1

MANZANARES, Ma. Kyla Angelica C. March 15, 2020

English 13 THR5 839 words

Reflection Paper

“The Undead” Reflection Paper

Photography is a great tool for capturing moments and reminiscing memories. In this

technological era, we usually take photos using our phone cameras or any other camera devices.

It seems normal to make use of it on everyday basis but looking back to historical periods, it

seems to be in the opposite way. “The Undead” essay written by Vicente Rafael talks about the

notes on photography in the Philippines which roots from its origin on colonial periods and how

it emerged over time.

The paper highlights the beginning of photography through images under the American’s

colonial power. Capturing photos of the population and their geographic location led to public’s

curiosity on who were the beneficiaries during the imperialist movement (Rafael 76). Also,

photography was used as a tool for colonial to control power specifically in the Philippines. The

author emphasized the imperialist state and Philippine natives through photographic enterprise.

The section of “Dead Images of the Living” discusses the biased approaches of photography in

which the eye sees but some parts still remained unseen and results to alienation of the people

who were part of the picture. For instance, in the study of French photographs over the image of

the colonized natives, distribution of such images was due to violence. Such photographs are a

strong proof to be argued over, yet no one feels compelled to respond as there are threats over
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the dominated people (Rafael 77). In other words, we are blinded in the picture of the reality

since camera was a tool for controlling others way back then.

Photography along with the text also talked about its purpose in inevitable changes of the

nation. Ethnological photographs played a huge part in distinguishing social division between

lower, middle, upper class, civilized, and uncivilized, and pure and mixed natives (Rafael 81).

However, vast changes in the transformation under the American colony were seen such as

savages into soldiers, prisoners into obedient citizens, and lazy natives into productive laborers

(Rafael 83). These images clearly show that photography modifies the observable process within

an individual. Photography was used in various ways stemming from its colonial origins that

were found beneficial by human races.

In the section of “Living Images of the Dead,” corpses of the Filipinos killed in battle

were argued about. As an impression, the literal images of these during the colonial period were

only viewed as historical proofs. We’re uncertain of the things we’re looking at since there are

hidden meanings and interpretations; one feels the call to respond but still remains in doubt.

These kinds of photographs were displayed as a way to criticize the brutality of war (Rafael 86-

87). It seems to me that why do they have to capture images of the injustice treatment of such

deaths, as what appears in those photographs were parts that repels respect and morality.

Photographs of those corpses were ‘unburied’ as if they have no place to dwell on. Those proofs

were viewed as strongly offensive acts and only fail to narrate the truth of history that expands

our opportunity to visualize things. The text also emphasized that they should try to describe the

images since these are open to different interpretations and leaves unlabeled (Rafael 91). For me,

such images of the dead should be recognized and be given justice.


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The text also mentioned that printed captions were already used to describe the photos in

order to fully relay its real intentions. The ability to transmit messages would help to connect the

bond between the viewers and viewed (Rafael 93). Photography is a powerful device that still

remains despite of the changes and conveys these portraits as a symbol of commemorations in a

particular time and place. I also realized in the text that people have limited access to

photographic portraiture as Filipino bourgeoisie had only access to them. Also, compared to

other illustrative materials like paintings, photography has a large impact to view something in a

rich and detailed manner (Rafael 99-101). These dialectical images were conserved to be brought

up to the present. Philippine photography had a great progress that it is still widely valuable

nowadays.

To sum up, I really felt engaged in reading the essay as it interests me on the origins of

photography in the Philippines. But still, the information weren’t enough to view the full

historical events pertaining to photography. This ideology should be deeply analyzed in order to

dig into its real significance. A bigger picture should be exposed so that the issues in colonialism

photographs and Filipino portraits will have an immense discussion and awareness. One may not

see the violence shown as domination of American interests in the Philippines used photography

as the frontline in masking their intentions. Just like a deadly weapon, cameras are used as a

technology for power and dominance (Rafael 77). “The Undead” also indicates that there are still

unlabeled matters to be argued upon as there are inevitable catastrophes remained untold by

history that is still out of the picture and needs to be captured.


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Works Cited

Rafael, Vicente. “The Undead: Notes on Photography in the Philippines, 1898-1920s.” White

Love and Other Events in Filipino History. Durham and London, Duke University Press,

2000, pp. 76-102.

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