Lessons of the Hour

Isaac Juliens visionary film Lessons of the Hour explores the incomparable achievements of Frederick Douglass Americas foremost abolitionist figure After escaping slavery in Maryland Douglass gained prominence on the abolitionist circuit as an extraordinary orator becoming the most photographed American of the 19th century Juliens project is informed by some of Douglasss most important speeches such as Lessons of the Hour What to the Slave Is the 4th of July and Lecture on Pictures the latter being a text that connects picturemaking and photography to his vision of how technology influences human relations Juliens work gives expression to the zeitgeist of Douglasss era his legacy and the ways in which his story may be viewed through a contemporary lens The presentation also includes photographs and tintypes produced in conjunction with the film