Distorted cultures through an old camera.

Unearthing the Past: How Early Media Technologies Shaped Our Understanding of Culture and Race

Kai Mendoza in Culture & Society June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the surprising origins of modern media in ethnographic research and its lasting impact on how we perceive different cultures."

In an era dominated by digital media, it's easy to forget that our technologies have deep roots in the past. What if the tools we use to connect and understand each other were initially developed with a very different purpose in mind? This article delves into the fascinating and often unsettling history of early media technologies, tracing their origins to the world of 19th-century ethnographic research.

Imagine a time when the world felt vast and unknown, and anthropologists ventured into remote corners to document cultures believed to be on the brink of extinction. Driven by a sense of urgency and a desire to preserve what they saw as 'primitive' ways of life, these researchers turned to emerging technologies like photography, audio recording, and film. But what were the unintended consequences of these efforts?

This is the story of how the tools meant to preserve cultural heritage inadvertently played a role in reinforcing racial biases and shaping our understanding of different societies. As we unravel this history, we'll examine how these early media technologies continue to influence our perceptions today.

Salvage Ethnography: A Race Against Time

Distorted cultures through an old camera.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a concept known as 'salvage ethnography' took hold. The idea was that many 'primitive' cultures were rapidly disappearing due to Western expansion and modernization. Anthropologists felt a responsibility to document these cultures before they vanished, preserving their languages, customs, and traditions for future generations.

Driven by this salvage imperative, researchers began experimenting with new technologies to capture and record cultural information. Photography allowed them to create visual records of people, landscapes, and artifacts. Audio recording offered a way to preserve languages and oral traditions. Film promised to capture movement and behavior, providing a more complete picture of cultural life. However, these technologies were far from neutral tools.

Here are some of the methods they used:

Phonetic Alphabet: Creating phonetic alphabets to document and standardize indigenous languages.
Photography: Using photography to document physical appearance and cultural practices.
Audio Recordings: Recording speech and songs to preserve languages and traditions.
Film: Capturing movement, rituals, and daily life.

Brian Hochman's book, "Savage Preservation: The Ethnographic Origins of Modern Media Technology", artfully examines how these technologies were used—and misused—in the name of preservation. He argues that the very act of documenting these cultures through a Western lens often reinforced existing power dynamics and biases. The technologies, while intended to preserve, also had the effect of solidifying racial differences in the minds of the American public.

The Enduring Legacy: Reflecting on Our Media Landscape

As we navigate the complexities of our modern media landscape, it's essential to remember the historical context in which these technologies emerged. The biases and assumptions of the past continue to shape our perceptions today. By understanding the origins of media technology in ethnographic research, we can critically evaluate the images, sounds, and stories that surround us. We can work to create a more equitable and inclusive media landscape that respects the diversity of human experience.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/17460654.2016.1217972, Alternate LINK

Title: Savage Preservation: The Ethnographic Origins Of Modern Media Technology

Subject: History

Journal: Early Popular Visual Culture

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Adrianna Link

Published: 2016-09-26

Everything You Need To Know

What is salvage ethnography, and why did it emerge in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

Salvage ethnography emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because of a belief that 'primitive' cultures were disappearing due to Western expansion. Anthropologists aimed to document these cultures before they vanished, using technologies like photography, audio recording, and film to preserve languages, customs, and traditions. The intention was cultural preservation, but its implementation reinforced existing power dynamics and biases.

How were early media technologies like photography and audio recordings used in ethnographic research, and what was their impact?

Early media technologies such as photography, audio recordings, and film were used to document cultures perceived as 'primitive'. Photography captured visual records, audio recordings preserved languages and oral traditions, and film captured movement and behavior. Brian Hochman's "Savage Preservation" examines how these technologies, while intended to preserve cultures, reinforced racial differences due to the Western lens through which they were employed.

In what ways did the use of phonetic alphabets, photography, audio recordings, and film unintentionally contribute to reinforcing racial biases?

The use of phonetic alphabets, photography, audio recordings, and film, though intended for preservation, inadvertently solidified racial differences by documenting cultures through a Western lens. Brian Hochman argues that this act of documentation reinforced existing power dynamics and biases, shaping perceptions of different societies and unintentionally contributing to racial biases in the American public.

Why is it essential to understand the origins of media technology in ethnographic research, and how does it influence our perceptions today?

Understanding the origins of media technology in ethnographic research is essential because the biases and assumptions of the past continue to influence our perceptions today. Recognizing the historical context of these technologies allows us to critically evaluate the images, sounds, and stories that surround us and work towards a more equitable and inclusive media landscape. By learning about the biases of the past we can work towards creating a better and more equitable future.

What is the relevance of Brian Hochman's book, "Savage Preservation: The Ethnographic Origins of Modern Media Technology", to the discussion of early media technologies and their impact on culture and race?

Brian Hochman's book, "Savage Preservation: The Ethnographic Origins of Modern Media Technology", is relevant because it examines how early media technologies were used—and misused—in the name of preservation. It reveals that the very act of documenting cultures through a Western lens often reinforced existing power dynamics and biases. These technologies, while intended to preserve, also contributed to solidifying racial differences in the minds of the public. It highlights the impact of technology and it's unintended consequences.