Mobility media

ǂan ǂarchaeology of identity photography through science, art and visual culture

Abstract

In 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 Science;History of Visual Culture;History of Art;History of Photography;Migration;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2022
Typology:	3.14 - Invited Lecture at Foreign University
Organization:	UNG - University of Nova Gorica
UDC:	93/94
COBISS:	137572867
Views:	234
Downloads:	0
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
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