Boundary Images

Images are made through technologies and social processes, which can reproduce harmful phenomena. Boundary Images explores the political, material, and visual work that images do to cross and blur the boundaries between the technological and biological and between humans, machines, and nature, positing these boundaries as starting points for the production of new and radically different ways of knowing about the world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Images are multifaceted entities that serve as representations and mediations of political, social, and cultural phenomena. They operate not only through their visual content but also through the technologies and social processes that they employ. While images can be innovative and transformative, they can also reproduce harmful phenomena such as racism, misogyny, and conspiracy.

Boundary Images is a research project that explores the political, material, and visual work that images do to cross and blur the boundaries between the technological and biological, and between humans, machines, and nature. It seeks to understand the limits of the visual and beyond what can be seen, and posits these boundaries as starting points for the production of new and radically different ways of knowing about the world.

Through a series of interdisciplinary workshops, exhibitions, and publications, Boundary Images aims to bring together artists, researchers, and activists to explore the complex relationships between images, technology, and society. It seeks to challenge the dominant narratives that shape our understanding of the world and to promote a more nuanced and critical perspective on the role of images in shaping our lives.

One of the key themes of Boundary Images is the relationship between images and power. Images are often used to reinforce existing power structures and to marginalize and oppress certain groups of people. However, images can also be used to challenge and subvert these power structures, to promote social justice and equality, and to create new forms of political and social engagement.

Another theme of Boundary Images is the relationship between images and nature. Images are often used to represent and manipulate nature, to extract natural resources, and to control the environment. However, images can also be used to promote a more sustainable and ecologically responsible relationship with nature, to raise awareness of environmental issues, and to encourage people to take action to protect the natural world.

Boundary Images also explores the role of images in the production of knowledge and understanding. Images are often used to convey information and ideas, to document historical events, and to shape public opinion. However, images can also be used to challenge and complicate these narratives, to create new ways of knowing about the world, and to promote a more nuanced and critical understanding of the complex issues that we face.

In conclusion, Boundary Images is a research project that seeks to understand the complex and multifaceted role of images in shaping our lives and our world. Through a series of interdisciplinary workshops, exhibitions, and publications, it aims to promote a more nuanced and critical perspective on the role of images in shaping our society and our environment.

Weight: 150g
Dimension: 127 x 177 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517916121