1. The document discusses the history and evolution of documentary photography from its origins in the 19th century to more recent critiques from the left. 2. Early documentary photography aimed to objectively document reality, but critics argue it actually reinforced dominant ideologies. 3. In the 1930s, projects like the Farm Security Administration aimed to use photography to advocate for reform, but had limitations in depicting broader social conditions. 4. More recent critiques examine the ideological functions of photography and push documentary forms to acknowledge their own textuality and role in mediating meanings.