Visualising Truths: The Politics of Omission, Manipulation, and Erasure
This series is open to anyone having an interest in the visual means and modes through which migration and im/mmobility are and can be represented. The zoom link will be sent out via email 48 hours before the events.
This roundtable revisits the perceived ‘truthfulness’ of imagery in the face of decisions–intentional or not–that omit, edit, and erase elements. These practices potentially matter for how people make sense of issues, yet are not always apparent in visual outputs’ final forms. By considering the notion of truth-telling via a range of images and settings–including artificial intelligence, urban development, and data journalism–this event aims to highlight how visuals and their creators relate to facts, misinformation, and yet-to-be-realized realities. Moreover, it asks whether and how making such curatorial choices visible might be positive forces for public scholarship and knowledge about political issues such as (im)mobility.

In order to foster and inform discussion, prior to the events registrants are strongly encouraged to read the following short blog article: “Why Visuals Matter for the Politics of Migration—Particularly Now” by the organisers Dr William L Allen (British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Oxford) and Dr Marnie Howlett (Departmental Lecturer in Politics, University of Oxford).
Date: 25 February 2022, 12:00
Venue: Venue to be announced
Speakers: Anthony Bourached (Co-Founder, Oxia Palus; PhD Candidate in Machine Learning and High Dimensional Neuroscience, UCL), Gillian Rose (Professor of Cultural Geography, Fellow of the British Academy, The Open University)
Organising department: Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS)
Organisers: Dr William L Allen (DPIR, University of Oxford), Dr Marnie Howlett (DPIR, University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: migration-mobility@torch.ox.ac.uk
Hosts: Dr William L Allen (DPIR, University of Oxford), Dr Marnie Howlett (DPIR, University of Oxford), Migration and Mobility Network
Booking required?: Required
Booking url: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mmn-roundtable-series-visualising-migration-tickets-254603153887
Audience: Public
Editor: Marnie Howlett