Visual images of electricity in times of turmoil: perceptions, interpretations and symbolism

Pirgova, Luba 2013. Visual images of electricity in times of turmoil: perceptions, interpretations and symbolism. Presented at: People and the Planet 2013: Transforming the Future, Melbourne, Australia, 2-4 July 2013. Published in: James, Paul, Hudson, Chris, Carroll-Bell, Sam and Taing, Alyssa eds. People and the Planet 2013 Conference Proceedings. Global Cities Research Institute. Melbourne: Global Cities Research Institute, pp. 1-23.

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Abstract

Electricity is invisible and yet it has been turned into a product, to be sold and consumed by society as both a necessity and a commodity. This product, as with any product, has a visual form. The visual representations of electricity are also associated with a wide range of emotions and social practices. Electricity becomes somewhat ‘visible’ to the people when it is lost, when it is threatened, even if it is for a short time. Usually, these are at times of turmoil, such as wars and natural disasters. These are the times when electricity becomes a symbol of safety and security, a symbol of home and ‘our’ space; a symbol of warmth and comfort, a symbol of light and hope. The focus of this article is on the perceptions of electricity of individuals and social groups as presented in visual imagery. It is based on both primary and secondary images produced and interpreted during natural disasters. Empirical data includes an analysis of photographs and articles published by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Cable News Network (CNN) in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s US landfall in late October 2012, as well as field interviews commenting on pre- and post- Sandy perceptions of electricity in all its forms. The symbolism of electricity will be connected to more general issues of social and cultural sustainability as the perceptions of what is and what is needed intersect with questions of what might become if perceptions and expectations remain unchanged.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Publisher:	Global Cities Research Institute
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2020 03:09
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/57409

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