Abstract
The proposition for critical visual literacy (CVL) within participatory photography emphasises the dynamic interplay between image creation, interpretation, and social context. Based on visual literacy and informed by critical literacy and critical consciousness, CVL acknowledges the fluidity of image interpretation shaped by both creators and viewers. The model fosters collaborative dialogue and exploration through the creation and use of images, emphasising the need for flexibility, supported by eight fundamental tenets, including creativity, context, self-representation, group work, critical reflection, analysis, outputs, and transformation. The project “Who Are These Women?” serves as a practical case study utilising CVL as a guiding methodology, exploring participatory photography’s potential intersections with networked images and technology. Through online workshops during the COVID-19 lockdown, insights emerge on young women’s experiences with networked images, social media, employment, and identity formation. The findings highlight pressures on identity performance, the commodification of ‘femininity,’ and the role of critical reflection in photographic self-representation. By incorporating insights from this project, critical visual literacy within participatory photography underscores the potential of critical reflection and collaboration for transformative impact through the use of images within networked spaces.
Presenters
Kallina BrailsfordPhD Candidate and HPL, Visual Communication, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Visual Literacy, Participatory Photography, Networked Image, Photovoice, Visual Culture
