Image: Three Inquiries in Technology and Imagination

The three essays in "Image" explore the power of the visual in modern life, at the intersection of the human and the technological. They challenge the abstraction, anonymity, and dangerous disconnection of contemporary images and propose new practices of imagination grounded in love and humility.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 20 September 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Modern life is permeated with images, the creation of images, and the pursuit of visual dominance as a means of exerting control over the world. Technological advancements have played a significant role in enhancing our ability to manipulate and interpret visual information, enabling us to create, store, transmit, and display images with greater ease and precision. The three essays featured in the book Image, authored by renowned philosophers of religion Mark C. Taylor, Mary-Jane Rubenstein, and Thomas A. Carlson, delve into the profound power of the visual at the crossroads of human and technological advancements. Building upon Heidegger's notion that modern humanity seeks to master the world through the representation or picturing of reality, these essays explore the contemporary culture of the image in its philosophical, religious, economic, political, imperial, and military dimensions. They challenge the abstract nature, anonymity, and potentially dangerous disconnection of contemporary images, emphasizing the need for a more responsible and mindful approach to their creation and consumption.

In the first essay, Taylor delves into the history of capitalism, highlighting its inherent lack of humility, particularly in the face of mortality. He suggests that art can serve as a means of reconnecting us to the earth and promoting a sense of humility and interconnectedness. Through a genealogical exploration of iconic views from space, Rubenstein exposes the delusions of conquest associated with extraterrestrial travel. She challenges the notion that we can conquer and control other worlds through technological advancements and instead advocates for a more humble and respectful approach to our interactions with the universe.

Carlson extends Heidegger's analysis by focusing on the telematic elimination of the individual brought about by totalizing technologies. He explores the ways in which digital technologies and algorithms are shaping our lives and relationships, highlighting the risks and consequences of a society that is increasingly dominated by machines. Carlson calls for a reconsideration of our relationship with technology and proposes new practices of imagination and creativity that can help us navigate the complexities of the modern world.

Together, these essays provide a comprehensive examination of the power of the visual in contemporary society. They challenge us to think critically about the ways in which images are used and consumed, and they offer practical suggestions for how we can act responsibly toward the past in a way that preserves the earth for future generations. By attending to the fragility of material things and our own mortality, they propose new practices of imagination that can help us navigate the challenges of the present and envision a more sustainable and fulfilling future.

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 147 x 223 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226782140