Geopolitics and Visual Culture

Abstract

At first glance, 'geopolitics and visual culture' might seem an odd title. The two terms invoke quite different associations: 'geopolitics' conjures up the sombre arena of international politics, populated by diplomats and world leaders and taken up with the conduct of international agreements, sanctions and conflicts; 'visual culture' suggests all manner of images - personal photographs, maps, art and advertising - as well as popular media forms like film and television that we use by virtue of a sense of sight. But recognition of the global and political nature of the major image producers of our time and of the visual nature of various forms of social control and resistance requires serio..