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Chapter 2. The critical tradition in visual studies

An introduction
  • Juha Herkman
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Images in Use
This chapter is in the book Images in Use

Abstract

This article gives a comprehensive account of ‘The Critical Tradition’ in today’s study of visual culture. The Critical Tradition encompasses approaches which focus explicitly on the power struggles between different social groups, institutions and ideologies. A content analysis of articles published in Visual Studies and Journal of Visual Culture in 2002–2008 shows a rejection of material and political reality as a starting point and a favouring of relative and constructivist forms of criticism in humanist approaches of visual culture, and emphasis on empirical instead of critical perspectives in social scientific visual studies. Poststructural and postmodern criticism has dominated in visual studies. What visual studies needs, this article suggests, is a new focus on real power relationships.

Abstract

This article gives a comprehensive account of ‘The Critical Tradition’ in today’s study of visual culture. The Critical Tradition encompasses approaches which focus explicitly on the power struggles between different social groups, institutions and ideologies. A content analysis of articles published in Visual Studies and Journal of Visual Culture in 2002–2008 shows a rejection of material and political reality as a starting point and a favouring of relative and constructivist forms of criticism in humanist approaches of visual culture, and emphasis on empirical instead of critical perspectives in social scientific visual studies. Poststructural and postmodern criticism has dominated in visual studies. What visual studies needs, this article suggests, is a new focus on real power relationships.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Approaches to visual communication and the question of power
  5. Chapter 1. Images 11
  6. Chapter 2. The critical tradition in visual studies 39
  7. Chapter 3. The map, the mirror and the simulacrum 55
  8. Chapter 4. Disenchantment with politics and the salience of images 69
  9. Part II. Case studies
  10. Chapter 5. Organising political consensus 91
  11. Chapter 6. Walls, doors and exciting encounters 113
  12. Chapter 7. The politics of visual representation 151
  13. Chapter 8. The politics of identity and visuality 181
  14. Chapter 9. Visual politics and celebrity humanitarianism 199
  15. Chapter 10. The economics of gay reality television 225
  16. Chapter 11. Mending endings 245
  17. Chapter 12. Representing the state of exception 269
  18. Index 291
https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.44.04her

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Approaches to visual communication and the question of power
  5. Chapter 1. Images 11
  6. Chapter 2. The critical tradition in visual studies 39
  7. Chapter 3. The map, the mirror and the simulacrum 55
  8. Chapter 4. Disenchantment with politics and the salience of images 69
  9. Part II. Case studies
  10. Chapter 5. Organising political consensus 91
  11. Chapter 6. Walls, doors and exciting encounters 113
  12. Chapter 7. The politics of visual representation 151
  13. Chapter 8. The politics of identity and visuality 181
  14. Chapter 9. Visual politics and celebrity humanitarianism 199
  15. Chapter 10. The economics of gay reality television 225
  16. Chapter 11. Mending endings 245
  17. Chapter 12. Representing the state of exception 269
  18. Index 291
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