Vincent Lavoie's 'L'instant-monument' Examines Photojournalism's Iconic Turn

In 'L'instant-monument', Vincent Lavoie analyzes photojournalism and its media destiny, focusing on the construction of news images. Published by Éditions Dazibao, the study traces how photographs, used since the late 19th century to support text, soon became tools for attraction and instrumentalization. Lavoie argues that in the age of triumphant imagery, our relationship with history is primarily visual, granting photographic documents an importance nearly equal to the events they depict. He cites examples such as the death of a Republican soldier in the Spanish Civil War, the Vietnamese girl burned by napalm, and a politician's suicide before cameras, showing how event photographs crystallize the most striking episodes of current affairs. The title 'L'instant-monument' reflects how news photography tends toward iconicity, freezing events into monuments. Lavoie warns that this process often stages reality for the glory of sponsors or sensationalist ends, exploited by popular press magnates and NGOs using 'compassionate' photography to evoke emotion and open wallets. Supported by archival documents, the book also examines the impact of sensational news on the evolution of photojournalism, establishing a drift toward spectacular monumentalization. Paul Ardenne contributes to the discussion.