[-empyre-] Barad and representation

[Lee Mackinnon]

To develop my thinking somewhat: It is possible to say that ideas such as non-representational theory have come about in light of the postdigital- we are able to better understand the agency of technical systems; the tyranny of representation; the fixity of one-way narrative structures; the homogeneity of representation in general (I would argue) through the framing of the post digital. In this way, the digital offers the possibility for diffractive readings (after Haraway and Barad), and an emphasis on difference rather than a one-to-one mapping of an object with its representation.


There is a lovely passage by Ian Hacking that Barad uses, whereby he traces representation to the Greek Democritus who thinks about a world made of atoms. From this point, the real is no longer equated with unqualified likeness. Atoms suggest a gap between representation and what is represented, and we enter a world of appearances. It seems we have long attempted to force these two aspects back into a seamless totality, but the digital can help to remind us that the gap between these ideas is incomputable- filled with irreducible difference and complexity. Representations are contingent, pre digital artefacts that wish to reduce the world to essentialism... This was the general direction of my thinking. I have not really formalised it yet... Of course, I am aware of the ways in which digital technologies can be protocological and predetermining too- but I am hopeful for the potential of thinking through them...Of how we can productively deploy them in our thinking...


I have to sleep now (UK bedtime!) But I will write more tomorrow and am happy to discuss this and anything else that is contributed then.


All best,


Lee



Lee Mackinnon
Lecturer  - BA (Hons) Photography

+44 1202 363281
lmackinnon at aub.ac.uk
aub.ac.uk<http://aub.ac.uk/>


[cid:imagec441cf.PNG at 6d13fad1.4fae7d54] <http://www.facebook.com/inspiredaub>   [cid:image466202.PNG at c4b952b1.4ba4f6eb]  <http://www.twitter.com/inspiredAUB>   [cid:imagef9feb9.PNG at 4eea1927.4cb4773b]  <http://www.youtube.com/inspiredaub>
        [cid:imagedca42c.PNG at 074a4d7d.4ba18f7c] <http://www.aub.ac.uk/>



________________________________
The contents of this communication are confidential and intended solely for the use of the named recipient(s). If you have received this email in error please delete it and do not disseminate, distribute,copy or alter it. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Arts University Bournemouth.

Although Arts University Bournemouth has taken reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email, the University cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments.
________________________________
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.artdesign.unsw.edu.au/pipermail/empyre/attachments/20160701/e08a1420/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: imagec441cf.PNG
Type: image/png
Size: 417 bytes
Desc: imagec441cf.PNG
URL: <http://lists.artdesign.unsw.edu.au/pipermail/empyre/attachments/20160701/e08a1420/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image466202.PNG
Type: image/png
Size: 660 bytes
Desc: image466202.PNG
URL: <http://lists.artdesign.unsw.edu.au/pipermail/empyre/attachments/20160701/e08a1420/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: imagef9feb9.PNG
Type: image/png
Size: 964 bytes
Desc: imagef9feb9.PNG
URL: <http://lists.artdesign.unsw.edu.au/pipermail/empyre/attachments/20160701/e08a1420/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: imagedca42c.PNG
Type: image/png
Size: 2504 bytes
Desc: imagedca42c.PNG
URL: <http://lists.artdesign.unsw.edu.au/pipermail/empyre/attachments/20160701/e08a1420/attachment-0003.png>