ISSP 2019 Publication - Photography and the World

Oriana Eliçabe is an independent documentary
photographer and a member
of Enmedio, a collective of image-makers
who seek to create connections
between art and social action. Together,
they explore the transformative power of
images and stories through spectacular
interventions using all the means within
reach: photography, the media, design,
performance, and more. Oriana tells us
more about how to create interference in
the dominant narrative.
One of the goals of Enmedio
is to “create interference in
the dominant narrative.” That
sounds quite serious but the
activities you organize are far
more fun. Tell us about your
approach.
Sometimes when we want to communicate with
people, we realize that we don’t share a common
ground for understanding. But we don’t want to
talk only to ourselves or like minded people, we also
want to talk with people who don’t share our ideas.
Things like humour and pop culture—what we call
the “cultural grammar”—can work as a shortcut
to connect with people through images, rather than
boring discourse. Through this connection, we create
a shared “cultural terrain”—meaning everything
like history, art, photography, memes, celebrity
gossip, sports spectacles.. everything. This is the
starting point for communication.
When you use things like
humour and pop culture for
activist purposes, how do you
ensure it keeps the depth and
meaning of the message?
133 Is this supposed to be political?
134
How do I know if this ethical?