International conference on visual studies

In Light of War: Photography, Conflict, and Political Violence

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is not only a war against soldiers and civilians. It is also a war against the exchange of research and ideas between East and West, and against the ability of scholars and academics from these politically defined areas to practice collective thinking and constructive disagreement. Organised by a group of researchers in history and theory of photography from both Eastern and Western countries, the conference In Light of War is a reaction to the war in Ukraine, aiming at continuing our exchange of ideas against all odds by putting our academic knowledge and skills to practice. The conference will feature relatively spontaneous papers, talks, and discussions as a way of sharing observations and ideas concerning the performance of photographic cultures in the context of the war in Ukraine and the Russian sphere, whether directly or more implicitly.

The conference will take place on 4 June online, at 13.00 – 19.30 Berlin time (GMT+2). Attendance is free. Please register via Eventbrite.

Programme

13.00 – Zoom opens

13.15 – welcome remarks

13.30 – Friedrich Tietjen, researcher and curator at Stiftung Reinbeckhallen (Berlin): “There’s nothing to see here, move along”. Some observations on RT’s visual coverage of the war in Ukraine

14.10 – Olga Davydova, independent researcher, St.Petersburg (Russia): Impossible Shots

14.45 – Farrah Karapetian, San Diego University (USA): Cataract

15.20 – discussion

15.40 – coffee break

16.00 – Samuel Driver, Brown University (USA): Formation of Reality: Stalinist Photography as Technology

16.35 – Jennifer Tucker, Wesleyan University (USA): Arming Society with Cameras: The Interlocked Histories of Photography and Gun Violence

17.05 – discussion

17.30 – coffee break

18.00 – Gil Pasternak, Photographic History Research Centre (PHRC), De Montfort University (UK) in conversation with Denis Skopin, St.Petersburg State University (Russia): Exploring Photographs about Political Life in Russia after 24 February ’22

Conference organizing committee: Winfried Gerling, Maria Gourieva, Gil Pasternak, Friedrich Tietjen