About visual sources on the history of the Alash movement

Abstract

The author considers the array of photographs accumulated in recent decades as a valuable visual source for additional study of the history of the Alash movement. Visual images-messages have a good potential, since they contain denotative and connotative layers of communication. The interdisciplinary nature of such works, the increased interest of society in visualizing the history of Alash is noted. The use of photographs and other figurative evidence is considered as an addition and a means of a deeper understanding of the past only when included in the social, political and cultural context. The necessity of using such a method of forming visible representations of the history based on fundamental theoretical approaches and methodological tools is also emphasized. The author draws attention to the use of visual artifacts, taking into account the information and developments of specialists in the history of technology, including photography, cinema, fine art in general. The main attention is paid to the complex of photographs collected in the illustrative publications of B. Mursalim. Based on the analysis of a complex of photographs, concentrated mainly in a few illustrative publications, approaches to classification, introduction to the historical context and interpretation of documentary photographs as a means of supplementing and illustrating in scientific research are proposed. The main results and shortcomings in the visualization of the history of Alash through photographs are highlighted.