Flair Symposium: Literature and Change

The 15th biennial Flair Symposium, titled Niépce Now: Origins and Futures of the Photographic Image, will delve into the rich history and future of photography. This event, held at the Harry Ransom Center, celebrates the bicentenary of Joseph Nicéphore Niépce's groundbreaking heliograph, the earliest surviving photograph made with the camera obscura in 1827. The symposium will explore both early photographic experimentations and the implications of new digital and emerging AI technologies on the future of photography. Notably, it will feature discussions on the complex histories of nineteenth-century photographic processes, the roles of collectors and conservators, and the enduring questions surrounding image-making in the context of technological advancements.In conjunction with the symposium, an exhibition titled Radical Forms: Photographic Experimentation from the Ransom Center's Collections will be launched, curated by Dr. Christine Robinson, Nancy Inman, and Marlene Nathan Meyerson. The exhibition will further enhance the exploration of photographic experimentation, drawing from the Ransom Center's renowned collection. The Flair Symposium, which has honored the legacy of Fleur Cowles since 1994, continues to foster interdisciplinary conversations that enrich the understanding of literature and the arts. This year's theme encapsulates the transformative power of photography as both an art form and a medium of communication, making it a must-attend event for enthusiasts and professionals alike.