Anglo-American Theory: Representation and Visual Activism

Abstract

When reading about images and visual culture, one frequently encounters the term representation. Often, this situation results in a confusion because it forces us to ask about a relationship between image and representation and between visual culture and representation: What is a representation and how does it differ from an image? What is the role of representation in the field of visual culture? This chapter tries to answer these simple (at the first sight), however very complex (when examined closely) questions by inviting a reader into a realm of visual culture where theoretical writing on images gets more politically engaged and critically addresses and reflects on social issues. It refers to a group of authors whose theoretical work has been inseparably connected with their work as political activists and prominent figures of public education. In the first part, a wider cultural context, in which the notion of representation emerged, is established. Then the text provides an insight into how the authors Michel Foucault, Stuart Hall, John Berger and Nicholas Mirzoeff have approached the issue of representation in their unique ways, and yet with a common goal: to show us that visual culture is both a powerful tool through which ruling powers of modern society can control the people and a platform based on which the people can control the leading structures. In the end, we discuss some of the protest movements emerging lately in the fields of visual arts and political culture. We use them as examples of visual activism that is seen as a practical implementation of the presented theoretical accounts into the contemporary public life.