Visual Culture and the Forensic: Culture, Memory, Ethics

David Houston Jones bridges the gap between forensic practices and the broader field of activity, exploring how contemporary art responds to forensic evidence and the assumptions underpinning its consumption. Artists such as Forensic Architecture, Simon Norfolk, Melanie Pullen, Angela Strassheim, John Gerrard, Julian Charrière, Trevor Paglen, Laura Poitras, and Sophie Ristelhueber are examined, and the book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, visual culture, literary studies, modern languages, photography, and critical theory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 11 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

David Houston Jones constructs a vital bridge between traditionally recognized forensic practices, such as crime scene investigation, and the expansive realm of activities that the forensic now encompasses, including performance and installation art, photography, and more. In the contemporary landscape, artists are engaging with forensic evidence, such as crime scene photography, and challenging the underlying assumptions that shape its consumption. This work prompts us to reflect on our visual gaze and the power dynamics at play, emphasizing the enduring presence of voyeurism in visual media and fostering new ethical frameworks for engagement. By drawing from the object-oriented culture associated with the forensic, these artists offer a reevaluation of the relationship between human voice and material evidence. They also pay homage to the discursive model of testimony, which has been overlooked but holds the key to developing a fresh ethical understanding of the forensic.

Through his meticulous analysis, Jones applies this methodology to a diverse range of contemporary visual practices, demonstrating their potential to reshape our understanding of evidence production, analysis, and deployment. Artists explored in the book include Forensic Architecture, Simon Norfolk, Melanie Pullen, Angela Strassheim, John Gerrard, Julian Charrière, Trevor Paglen, Laura Poitras, and Sophie Ristelhueber.

This book appeals to scholars and researchers across art history, visual culture, literary studies, modern languages, photography, and critical theory. It provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between forensic practices, visual representation, and ethical considerations, offering a rich and interdisciplinary perspective on contemporary art and society.

Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367420932