Mobility media

ǂan ǂarchaeology of the photographic ID document

Abstract

n an era of total surveillance, being in possession of a biometric ID document can still result in denial of one’s basic civil protections and human rights. The discovery of systematic errors in state-implemented facial recognition programs—such as in recognizing faces of color (Joy Buolamwini)—suggests the failure of current practices of global intelligence and mobility. This paper offers an archaeological investigation of the contemporary photo ID document. Returning to its invention in the 1920s, it examines the issues of conjectural knowledge (Carl Ginzburg), embodiment or tact (Béla Balázs) and the optical unconscious (Walter Benjamin) behind early “physiognomic” media.

Keywords

history of photography;surveillance studies;digital humanities;art history;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2021
Typology:	3.15 - Unpublished Conference Contribution
Organization:	UNG - University of Nova Gorica
UDC:	7
COBISS:	109764867
Views:	617
Downloads:	0
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