FELLOWSHIP PROJECT: SCOPIC COLONIALISM. A TRANSDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION

CONTEXT

The growing and invasive flow of images via screens, which can be described as scopic and cognitive colonialism, exposes us to endemic and infra-traumatic hyperstimulations that forcibly replace our subjectivity and imagination, whose function is to consolidate our psychic foundation. This seems to overwhelm the psyche's capacity to contain and protect, while at the same time producing suffering that wilfully/involuntarily slips under the radar of health monitoring. A new pathogenic social norm governs this dynamic, co-constructed in an unprecedented way by the hybridization of humans and machines (artificial intelligence, which does not respect precautionary principles, as noted by the World Health Organization[1]), and by the industrial and economic power.

In today's hypervisual world, images and visual stimuli permeate our daily lives, shaping our perceptions, identities, and relationships with the world around us. However, this visual landscape is not neutral; it is deeply embedded in power dynamics and often used to perpetuate forms of domination and exploitation. This research delves into the phenomenon of scopic colonialism, a term used to describe the pervasive use of visual imagery for the purpose of control and subjugation.

As we know, computer programming is the origin of a techno-society within which humans are only one of the elements of a hybrid state that obeys multiple logics: economic, algorithmic, physical, social, psychological, anthropological, cultural, political, environmental, etc. To these logics, known thanks to various fields of study, are added those that emerge and escape rational knowledge since AI is progressing much faster than that of humans. The complex dynamics generated by these interactions radically modify the notion of representation, which can no longer be understood from a traditional perspective, namely as the presentation of an absent object or concept, by means of an image, a figure, a sign. The emphasis on the symbolic aspect of representation, cut off from techno-social reality and its production contexts, seems insufficient at a time when the image is produced in a network or even live, according to infinite and dynamic circularities that respond above all to colonizing economic logics. This scopic production of representativeness parasites the classic concept of representation, which no longer corresponds to the bipolarity of representation-reality, absence-presence.

Visual studies allow for a critical deconstruction of the polysemy of the concept of the image, traditionally linked to mental representations and language metaphors. It is the logic of domination that is thus revealed in this second historical phase of image study, extending (or even breaking with) the iconology promoted by art historians. Visual studies introduce an expansion of the horizons of the invisibility of the image by reexamining the multi-directionality of the forces and factors contributing to its production and use (Hoelzl, Marie, 2015). It is clear that the proliferation of the image domain with the democratization of television and later the Internet calls for a post-positivist reconsideration of iconology beyond the paradigmatic study of the work of art as an object that imitates another.

Throughout this research, we will have the opportunity to understand that most bio-cognitive-behavioral and emotional treatments take place at an unconscious level and are consequently widely exploited by these new logics. Squire and Kandel (2005) suggest that the primary sensory modality in humans, as well as in other primates, is vision, involving more than 30 different brain areas. Therefore, it is no coincidence that we are fascinated by the flow of images, leading to a capitalization of the visual. This information is corroborated, among others, by Breedlove, Rosenzweig, and Watson (2012): vision, supported by a large number of brain areas, is a modality that brings enormous benefits to vital behaviors such as predator avoidance, searching for food, a sexual partner, or shelter. These behaviors are currently condensed, impulsively and fatally, on screens for the search for psycho-social-economic protections and sexual satisfactions, to shield oneself from internal and external economic predators (via the search for entertainment and information), to respond to a binge of images, to accumulate content, etc.

It is crucial to recall that we are programmed to prioritize the processing of negative stimuli, and this scientific knowledge has not escaped the media, especially social networks, which algorithmically capture our attention through negativity: negative emotions, bad parenting, and negative comments have a greater impact than positive ones, and negative information is processed more thoroughly than positive information (Baumeister et al., 2001). This has become a general, global, and pathogenic communication model aimed at capturing attention by any means while reinforcing a culture of suffering and frustration versus the necessary pursuit of well-being and rewards that only total war (Alliez, Lazzarato, 2016) can provide. The visual system is designed to detect potentially dangerous, threatening, or frightening stimuli in our environment and respond to them prioritarily, involuntarily, and automatically (Rozin, Royzman, 2001). All of this results in a perceptual bias in favor of negative stimuli.

The socio-clinical data that raise concerns are proliferating and highly alarming. Jean Twenge (2017) is one of the first to provide solid insights for psychopathological reflection. By examining a set of ongoing longitudinal surveys spanning several decades in the United States, Twenge discovers results that are more than shocking: it turns out that, in the United States, girls aged 12 to 14 committed suicide three times more often in 2015 than in 2007. Twenge also notes a decline in social interactions, and a recent surge in depressive symptoms and helplessness, primarily among adolescents. Frances Haugen, among many others, confirms, with highly relevant data, the morbid effects of Instagram, an application primarily focused on images. Haugen, Facebook's whistleblower (now Meta), announced in 2021 that the company was aware that use of its apps was leading to an increase in suicide among young girls: "We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls", says a slide from a presentation given by internal researchers in 2019. The information was reportedly posted on Facebook's internal bulletin board and viewed by The Wall Street Journal (Wells, G., Horwitz, J., Seetharaman, D., 2021). The issues that concern us are captured here: how scopic colonialism profoundly transforms individuals and societies?

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OBJECTIVES

At a time when everything is becoming visual, the project Scopic Colonialism. A Transdisciplinary Exploration intends to investigate the mechanisms and implications of the profound interplay between economic logics, visual studies, visual neurosciences, perception psychology, psychoanalysis, and the ethical challenges arising from the manipulation of human visual capacities within the context of contemporary capitalism. This research seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of how visual stimuli influence consumer behavior and societies, exploring different scientific intersections. Beyond this exploration, we defend the hypothesis that the digital subject as well as societies are exposed, in today's digital ecosystem, to political and psychopathological consequences that are still insufficiently assessed in their multidimensionality and multidisciplinarity.

This project is an inescapable contribution to the understanding of the visual dimensions of contemporary colonialism. By weaving together insights from diverse domains, it endeavors to provide a nuanced perspective on the ethical challenges and opportunities posed by the manipulation of human visual capacities within the capitalist framework. It also seeks to inspire meaningful discourse, foster collaboration, and contribute to the evolution of ethical, educational and clinical practices in scopic capitalism.

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METHOD

To enhance the validity of this exploration, the author wishes to draw on several disciplines to nurture a holistic understanding of scopic colonialism. Qualitative and quantitative approaches will be analyzed and articulated within the framework of this philosophical work, with a concern for methodological mix. Among the perspectives studied, we should mention:

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A.?? Visual Studies can contribute to the comprehension of visual colonialism in several ways: analyzing the history and politics of visual representation; unveiling the ideological underpinnings of visual colonialism; documenting the resistance to visual colonialism; promoting critical visual literacy.

B.??? Visual Neurosciences of the Consumer helps us to delve into the neural mechanisms underlying visual perception; this approach explores how our brains process visual information and how this processing can be influenced by scopic capitalism. Neurovision, in particular, provides us with a paradigmatic model of the technologies and scientific logic at work in decoding consumer behavior, and of the strategies that can be used to modify a wide range of behaviors. Cognitive neuroscience of vision uncovers the neural mechanisms involved in processing visual information and how these processes shape consumer decision-making.

C.?? Psychology of Perception: Illuminating the Constructed Reality

a.??? Cultural and Social Influences: Investigate how cultural and societal factors shape the perception of visual stimuli, impacting behaviors and cognitions.

b.??? Psychoanalysis: The Unconscious Dimensions of Visual Manipulation: Uncovers the unconscious drives and anxieties that are often exploited by visual imagery, leading to compulsive consumption and social conformity.

c.???? Consumer Identity Formation: Explores how advertising and visual stimuli contribute to the construction of individual and collective identities and desires.

D.?? Ethical and Philosophical Issues: Navigating the Moral Quandaries of Scopic Colonialism

a.??? Informed Consent in Advertising: Evaluates the ethical implications of visual manipulation in advertising, emphasizing the importance of informed consent.

b.??? Corporate Responsibility: Examines the role of corporations in upholding ethical standards and their responsibility for the societal consequences of manipulating human visual capacities.

c.???? Towards Conscious Consumption: Explores strategies for promoting conscious consumption, empowering individuals to make informed decisions based on their values and needs, rather than being swayed by visual and unconscious manipulation.

d.??? Philosophy: How can philosophical frameworks enrich our understanding of the ethical (human dignity, autonomy, self-determination, privacy) and existential dimensions of economic and life-style choices?

CONCLUSION

Scopic colonialism is a pervasive and insidious form of power that shapes our perceptions and influences our behavior. By understanding its mechanisms and ethical implications, we can take steps to resist its influence and promote other values in the visual landscape. This research wishes to provide a comprehensive exploration of scopic colonialism from a transdisciplinary perspective. In this context, it is more than vital to raise awareness of the power of visual imagery and its potential for both harm and good, ultimately empowering individuals to become more discerning consumers of visual information and advocates for a more ethical visual culture. In light of the ethical implications of scopic colonialism, it is also crucial to develop strategies for promoting more ethical and responsible visual practices. This may include: increased transparency and accountability from media companies and social media platforms, greater awareness of visual biases and manipulation techniques, promoting diversity and inclusion in media representation.

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REFERENCES

Alliez, é., Lazzarato, M. (2016). Guerre et Capital. Paris?: éditions Amsterdam.

Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer, C., & Vohs, K. D. (2001). Bad is Stronger than Good. Review of General Psychology, 5(4), 323–370. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.5.4.323

Breedlove, S. M., Rosenzweig, M. R., Watson, N. V. (2012). Psychobiologie. De la biologie du neurone aux neurosciences comportementales, cognitives et cliniques. Bruxelles?: De Boeck.

Hoelzl, I., Marie, R. (2015). Soft Image. Towards a New Theory of Digital Image. Bristol?: Intellect.

Lavallée, G. (1999). L’enveloppe visuelle du moi. Paris?: Dunod.

Mondzain, M. J. (2015). L’image peut-elle tuer?? Paris?: Bayard.

Rozin, P., & Royzman, E. B. (2001). Negativity Bias, Negativity Dominance, and Contagion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5(4), 296–320. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327957PSPR0504_2

Squire, L. R., Kandel, E. R. (2005). La mémoire. De l’esprit aux molécules. Paris?: Falmmarion.

Twenge, J. (2017). IGen. New York: Atria Books.

Wells, G., Horwitz, J., Seetharaman, D. (2021). Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show. Wall Street Journal, Sept. 14, 2021. Disponible en ligne?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739?mod=article_inline

Wylie, C. (2019). Mindf*ck. Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America. New York: Random House Publishing Group.

[1] WHO (2023) calls for safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Available online: https://www.who.int/fr/news/item/16-05-2023-who-calls-for-safe-and-ethical-ai-for-health