Documentary Now! Contemporary Strategies in Photography, Film and the Visual Arts.

DOCUMENTARY NOW! CONTEMPORARY STRATEGIES IN PHOTOGRAPHY, FILM AND THE VISUAL ARTS 

edited by Frits Gierstberg, Maartje van den Heuvel, Hans Scholten, and Martijn Verhoeven. NAi Publishers/192 pp./$35.00 (hb).

Among texts questioning the meanings and future of documentary in the media arts, Documentary Now! distinguishes itself by juxtaposing essays by internationally known art historians with the statements of contemporary image-makers themselves. Color photographs and video stills, representing some of the wide range of work represented by the term, complete the three-part approach. The resulting text is a rich and engaging exploration of documentary-related work in media culture. A dialogical rhythm develops as theorists reference practitioners and artists in turn write about the evolution of their work in relationship to historic trends. The fourth in NAi's Reflect series (available in both English and Dutch versions), Documentary Now! is a photography-focused departure from the other books on international social issues as related to urban planning and architecture. Not limited to the discussion of a particular exhibition, the editors are able to respond to questions relevant to a broad range of work. Though the essays frequently reference canonized documentary tradition (e.g., the Farm Security Administration) and contemporary media makers Martha Rosler and Allan Sekula, many Dutch artists whose work has not seen as much international press are also included as important examples of the documentary continuum. Through this dynamic mix of makers and theoreticians, Dutch and international, the editors address the key questions relevant to the many faces of documentary practice today.

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