My work is about photography: what it is, what it means, what it does. I explore the history and theory of photography in a number of different ways in my work as scholar, writer, artist, and educator. All of my projects begin with looking closely at images and considering them in their historical contexts. I am interested in how photographs are invested with meaning, and in how they come to have specific cultural significance at different historical moments.

This webpage serves primarily as a visual portfolio. For more information about my scholarly books, articles, and lectures, please see the book tabs provided here, the links page, my CV, and my faculty homepage: www.saic.edu/profiles/faculty/shawn-smi…