The Emotional Power of Visual: On the Representation of Migrants, Refugees and Aslyum Seekers in Global Visual Politics

Abstract

Today, visual studies and emotional studies show a significant development by feeding each other. The triggering of feelings, emotions and thoughts by visuals that provide us reference in our making sense of the world, in other words, the emotional power of visuals constitutes the intersection point of these two sub-disciplines. As the common theme of these two fields, the visual representations of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the media plays an important role in mobilizing and collectivizing a range of emotions on a global scale. The aim of this study is to analyse how immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers are visualized and how these images turn into emotional and political outputs. These visual representations have the power to lead different emotions; while some visuals activate feelings of empathy and compassion and provide collective solidarity, others stimulate negative emotions such as fear and anger giving rise to securitization policies and practices of exclusion.

Keywords

• Visual Studies
• Emotion Studies
• Migration
• Migrant
• Refugee
• Asylum Seeker

Görselin Duygusal Gücü: Göçmen, Mülteci ve Sığınmacıların Küresel Görsel Politikadaki Temsili Üzerine

Abstract

Günümüzde görsel çalışmalar ve duygu çalışmaları birbirinden beslenerek önemli bir gelişim göstermektedir. Dünyayı anlamlandırma ve yorumlamamızda bize referans sağlayan görsellerin hisleri, duygu ve düşünceleri tetiklemesi, başka bir ifadeyle görsellerin duygusal gücü bu iki alt-disiplinin kesişim noktasını teşkil etmektedir. Bu iki alanın ortak teması olarak göçmen, mülteci ve sığınmacıların medyadaki görsel temsilleri küresel ölçekte bir dizi duygunun harekete geçirilmesi ve kolektifleştirilmesinde önemli rol oynamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı göçmen, mülteci ve sığınmacıların ne şekilde görselleştirildiklerini, söz konusu görsellerin nasıl duygusal ve politik çıktılara dönüştüklerini analiz etmektir. Bu görsel temsiller farklı duyguları kanalize etme gücüne sahiptir; kimi görseller empati ve merhamet duygularını harekete geçirip kolektif dayanışmayı sağlarken, kimileri ise korku ve öfke gibi negatif duyguları canlandırır, güvenlikleştirme politikaları ve dışlama pratiklerini beraberinde getirir.

Keywords

• Görsel Çalışmalar
• Duygu Çalışmaları
• Göçmen
• Mülteci
• Sığınmacı

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