Photography and visual memoirs of military dictatorship. Reflections from history

Abstract

The social demand that prevails in Chile on the recovery of the memory of the most sensitive events in the country, during the years of the military regime (1973-1990), has resulted in the publication of several books of pictures taken during those years. For this reason, a significant number of documentary photographs are currently available, which illustrate the repressive practices committed by the security forces. Images were decisive to generate national and international rejection against the Junta Militar. This article, on the one hand, presents a general view of the historical evolution of documentary photography in Chile during this period. On the other hand, it develops a reflection on the main characteristics of the images taken and disseminated that were related to violations of rights.