Photographic Justice is the term Corky Lee used to describe his work. What started as more of a hobby to try and tell the stories of the underrepresented Asian community in New York turned into one of the most prolific photography and social activism careers in America.
This documentary shows how Lee became a pillar of activism and community journalism in New York. From the start, you’ll hear someone say they don’t know anyone who knows who Corky the person really is. Unfortunately, by the end of the documentary, I didn’t really know either.
The film is a thorough exploration of his work and its impact, along with a few highlights of his life and what inspired him. What’s missing are the details of his thoughts and life events between the high points of his journalistic work.
As a child, Lee read comic books and aspired to do good, just like a superhero. He learned photography through trial and error and gained notoriety because he covered protests and gatherings led by Asian Americans that the mainstream outlets in New York did not.
There is a lot of old footage and photos that keep the film interesting, as they showcase a history of New York that isn’t widely known. Overall, the documentary is a tad dry. Lee’s work was important, influential, and benefited communities that were largely overlooked, especially in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The missing piece is the personal touch from Lee himself.
Then again, there’s a strong possibility that the reason why no one really knew Corky Lee is that his work was the strongest reflection of his mind and spirit. He sacrificed so much of his personal time to photography that it left little room for relationships outside of it. This film has interviews with family and friends, and they also define Lee through his work ethic and dedication to social justice.
He never wanted to be tied down to any single news outlet because he wished to cover the events he thought were important or relevant the dive in order to showcase the diversity of Asian American culture -- from protests to the first Coney Island hotdog eating contest won by an Asian American woman. This approach left him with constant financial problems, but he always persevered so that he could do what he believed was right.
Photographic Justice is the sort you’d watch in a journalism or photography class before completing a short quiz about it the day after. It may not be the most exciting watch, but it does a good job of showing a nearly complete picture of Corky Lee and his important work.
Author Bio:
Ulises Duenas is a senior writer and film critic at Highbrow Magazine.
For Highbrow Magazine