Thirteenth International Conference on The Image

Abstract

In an integrated, immersive, virtual digital world, how do we know what is a who? That is, what are the images that help us determine being-ness? This is, of course, a return not back to the future but connecting the future back to the continually reincarnated notion of the portrait. The form of the portrait has not ceased to be but rather continues to morph in an ever-connected dance with its shadow partner the photograph. This conference paper addresses the ongoing relationship of the portrait and photograph in the Metaverse, but also extend beyond into the portrait as it reverberates through digits, data, and their inscription upon flesh, bodies, and living matter. Connecting visual culture and art historical methodologies with continental philosophy and post-humanism, my paper encapsulate main ideas from the fourth chapter of my book project on the contemporary portrait.