Ocular Becomings in Dangerous Times

Abstract

Over the years, there has been growing international interest in understanding the visual, the ‘politics of the eye’ and what we here refer to as ‘ocular becomings’. This metaphor was chosen as the theme of this special issue of vjep, and the conference out of which it was generated, as a catalyst for us to think about the contemporary ways in which humans are influenced by historically and socially constructed visual narratives, practices, strategies and realities, and the imaginations or screens that influence what and how we see. Today – as historically – selected, constructed and manipulated images are used in wars, competition, radicalisation and for abusive purposes as well as for a kind educational and supportive use. Visualisation, representation and images are therefore not simple issues. For centuries, our world has been categorised according to what we see – and many claims have been made about the nature of becoming on this basis. Some of these claims invite our earnest attention as educationalists and scholars, as consumers and as advocates for learners and the way their becomings are portrayed accordingly. These, in turn, ask us to consider new ways of casting our ocularities – through new methodologies and methods, as well as contemporary topics for inquiry that were previously unimaginable. It is to this emphasis that we devote this special issue.

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