THE PROJECT
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What is this project about?
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This project examines how images of human suffering are commonly represented in visual culture and explores the idea that virtual reality, as well as other forms of interactive 3D media, have the power to alter these representations and viewer perception.
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What does "representations of human suffering" mean?
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Representations of human suffering is referring to visual images (or representations) of human suffering. Suffering can be an individual in physical pain or a person in emotional distress; it can also be represented as groups of people who are 'suffering' by nature of their condition (such as being homeless or stateless), such as refugees, displaced people, or victims of a natural disaster.
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Typically these representations of human suffering are stereotypical and cliche, which is problematic as these images of suffering can then become 'visual wallpaper' and lead to moral fatigue, where the viewer ceases to care about the individuals depicted in the photo and does not feel willing or able to help.
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A Syrian refugee child after arriving in Lesbos
Image by Gorges Moutafis/Reuters
REPRESENTATIONS OF SUFFERING
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What is virtual reality?
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Virtual reality is an immersive computer-generated simulation, environment, or experience that typically takes place with the user wearing electronic equipment, such as a headset and/or gloves.
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When I refer to virtual reality, I am including it as a 'new' technology. 'New' technology typically takes place in a 3D plane, allows greater user interactively and agency, and creates a more immersive experience.
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Another 'new' technology could be 360 degree videos.
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What is visual culture?
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Visual culture is a field of study that explores the aspect of culture that is explored in visual images.
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Scholars who explore visual culture: W. J. T. Mitchell, Roland Barthes, Nicholas Mirzoeff, Arthur Kleinman, Joan Kleinman, and Susie Linfield.
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Why is this important?
- It is important to look at representations of groups such as refugees because these representations often can have concrete, political effects in both individual nations and the international sphere.
- One possible effect of a misrepresentation of refugees can be the formation of xenophobic political groups who desire to close their nation's borders.
- Human suffering should not be reduced to a visual image that is easy to glance at and then dismiss as unimportant; however, in modern visual culture this is often the case due to moral fatigue
- Virtual reality has the potential to foster greater empathy for the suffering of individuals, and could potentially be more successful in encouraging viewer action as opposed to the viewer feeling helpless or distant from the situation.
- It is important to look at representations of groups such as refugees because these representations often can have concrete, political effects in both individual nations and the international sphere.
Virtual Reality
Visual Culture
Importance
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What is 'old technology'?
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Old technology is technology that takes place in a 2D plane and/or typically lacks interactive or immersive qualities. An example of old technology would be a picture in a newspaper or a short video clip online.​
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What is 'new' technology?
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New technology is technology takes place in a 3D and/or typically has increased interactive or immersive qualities. An example of new technology would be a 360 degrees video or a virtual reality experience, like Clouds Over Sidra or The Displaced.
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What is moral fatigue?
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Moral fatigue is the idea that people are desensitized to visual images of suffering due to high number of these types of images that exist and are circulated.
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In the article "The Appeal of Experience; The Dismay of Images: Cultural Appropriations of Suffering Our Times," Arthur Kleinman and Joan Kleinman discuss moral fatigue being produced by the 'sheer volume' of images depicting suffering; they suggest that moral fatigue prevents the viewer from taking action after witnessing suffering.
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What is agency?
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Agency is self-choice, autonomy, and/or the ability to act.
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This can range from having ownership or choice over one's actions, identities, ​physical body, representations, etc.
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An example of an individual having agency would be Sidra, the narrator of Clouds Over Sidra, giving personal opinions on her life in a refugee camp. She is self-representing her own identity as a 12 year old Syrian female refugee through her statements in this virtual reality film, and thus she has agency (to a limited degree, due to others who were involved in editing or directing the film) over her representation.
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Definitions
Right: An anti-immigration protestor in Emporia, Kansas, US, image by Thad Allender; Left: Anti-refugee protest in Cologne, Germany on January 9, 2015, image by Juergen Schwarz/AP
Human suffering should not be reduced to a visual image that is easy to dismiss
Frequently Asked Questions
