Untitled (men in suits standing in police line-up, audience watching) 1962

Editor: This photograph by Jack Gould, titled "Untitled (men in suits standing in police line-up, audience watching)," depicts a mid-century scene with men in suits facing an audience. The mood feels quite serious and institutional. What strikes you most about this image? Curator: The power dynamics are immediately apparent. Who holds the gaze, who is subjected to it? The men on stage, likely marginalized, are being scrutinized. This arrangement speaks to the fraught relationship between law enforcement, social control, and the communities they police. Consider the social context of mid-century America and the civil rights movement. What narratives does this image evoke for you? Editor: The image does speak to surveillance and social inequalities, and how the gaze can be a tool of power. Thank you. Curator: And the power of images in shaping those narratives. Definitely something to reflect on further.