Another Look Back

Author: Editorial Department of "Old Photos"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-08-01
Features: "A Different Perspective on Looking Back," which can be said to be our original intention in editing and publishing "Old Photos." It is undeniable that for a long time, we have been accustomed to standing in designated positions and looking back at history with the same gaze. The complex and varied history and historical phenomena have been summarized into several unquestionable formulas and simple concepts. Understanding history in this way was originally intended to gain insights and avoid detours, and to live a clearer life. However, simplifying history artificially has had the opposite effect. Perhaps because it was born at the turn of the century, "Old Photos" has an inherent sense of mission. "Old Photos" takes "observing the survival and development of humanity over the past hundred years" as its responsibility, hoping to reveal more historical truths and provide more perspectives for looking back at history to satisfy people's desire for a "different perspective." In the mission undertaken by "Old Photos," we regard providing more perspectives as particularly important because only when a nation can face everything with multiple perspectives can it truly mature. Compared to another selected collection of "Old Photos," "History of the Common People," this collection can be considered a "grand narrative." The content is not unfamiliar to people, as many of them are the "major events" shared by Chinese people over a century. Despite this, due to "Old Photos" unique observational approach in "returning to the scene," or because it reveals little-known images, or because it provides an original perspective, it still brings a fresh sense of surprise. In "Old Photos," there is a growing trend of "rational scrutiny" of photos. This change, though guided by the editors, is ultimately the natural result of people's deepening understanding of historical photos. The information provided by historical photos is intuitive, but our understanding of them should not stop at a purely emotional level. We have every reason to draw more wisdom from this valuable cultural resource left by our predecessors to face the future.