Migration and Divisions: Thoughts on (Anti-) Narrativity in Visual Representations of Mobile People

Abstract

This article developed as part of a dialogue between the two authors. The dialogue was sparked off by MARLEY's response to a seminar presentation by GILLIGAN. In keeping with its origins we have retained the dialogue format. The article focuses on two sets of images—one a still image taken by a photojournalist, the other a sequence of stills taken by one of the authors. The authors use these images to explore the question "what imbues an image with narrative content?" and to explore the possibilities for developing a positive visual representation which promotes the idea of open borders. The article draws on linguistic theory to explore the grammar of visual narrative and relates this to the issue of the visual representation of immigration in contemporary Europe. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1002326

Keywords

• migration
• visual representation
• "them" and "us"
• mobility
• narrativity
• visual analysis
• conceptualisation
• Longacre
• Kress & van Leeuwen
• open borders