‘That’s me in the photo’ – Photography as a critical pedagogy technique in legal education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to highlight the opportunities for incorporating photography into a law subject and to examine the implications of that teaching practice from a critical pedagogy perspective. The article reflects on Susan Sontag's 1977 work, On Photography, in particular her examination of the nature and impact of photography, and explores key aspects of critical pedagogy, especially the notion of bridging the gap between education and everyday life, to create a conceptual foundation for examining four classroom-based activities involving photography in a law subject. The conclusion of the article emphasises the significant ways in which photography adds meaning and substance to a critical pedagogy approach to legal education.