New Ways Of Seeing

Episodes

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01Invisible Networks20190417How is technology changing the way we see? The artist James Bridle reimagines John Berger's Ways of Seeing for the digital age and reveals the internet's hidden infrastructure.

`The way we see things is affected by what we know, or what we believe` - John Berger. In 1972, Berger's seminal TV series and book changed perceptions of art and set out to reveal the language of images.

Of course, that was before the internet, smartphones, and social media took hold.

How do we see the world around us now? And, who are the artists urging us to look more closely?

James Bridle writes about the development of technology on our lives. His work has been exhibited at the V&A, the Barbican, in galleries worldwide, and online. In this series of four programmes, he updates Berger's Ways of Seeing, inviting contemporary artists to explore how the technology we use every day has transformed the ways in which we see and are seen.

In this first episode, Invisible Networks, James looks for the hidden, physical infrastructure of the internet. Does it matter that it's being swept out of sight? Artists Hito Steyerl, Ingrid Burrington, Trevor Paglen, Olia Lialina, Julian Oliver and Danja Vasiliev explain why they're compelled to show us what's going on beneath the surface.

Producer: Steve Urquhart

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4

How is technology changing the way we see? Artist James Bridle looks for hidden networks.

Journalist and artist James Bridle examines how technology is changing visual culture.

02Machine Visions20190424How is technology changing the way we see? The artist James Bridle reimagines John Berger's Ways of Seeing for the digital age, assessing the reliability and power of images.

`The camera, by making the work of art transmittable, has multiplied its possible meanings and destroyed its unique original meaning.` (John Berger)

In 1972, Berger's seminal TV series and book changed perceptions of art and set out to reveal the language of images.

Of course, that was before the internet, smartphones, and social media took hold.

How do we see the world around us now? And, who are the artists urging us to look more closely?

James Bridle writes about the development of technology on our lives. His work has been exhibited at the V&A, the Barbican, in galleries worldwide, and online. In this series of four programmes, he updates Berger's Ways of Seeing, inviting contemporary artists to explore how the technology we use every day has transformed the ways in which we see and are seen.

In this second episode, Machine Visions, James reveals the true meaning of images today. In an era of face-swap and video generation technologies, fake news and conspiracy theory, how has digitisation altered the nature, reliability and power of images? Artists Trevor Paglen, Hito Steyerl, Constant Dullaart and Adam Harvey explore how digital images have become so much more than mere pictures.

Producer: Steve Urquhart

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4

How is technology changing the way we see? Artist James Bridle considers digital images.

Journalist and artist James Bridle examines how technology is changing visual culture.

03Digital Justice20190501How is technology changing the way we see? The artist James Bridle reimagines John Berger's Ways of Seeing for the digital age and asks if we can make machines without prejudice.

`If the new language of images were used differently, it would, through its use, confer a new kind of power.` (John Berger).

In 1972, Berger's seminal TV series and book changed perceptions of art and set out to reveal the language of images.

Of course, that was before the internet, smartphones, and social media took hold.

How do we see the world around us now? And, who are the artists urging us to look more closely?

James Bridle writes about the development of technology on our lives. His work has been exhibited at the V&A, the Barbican, in galleries worldwide, and online. In this series of four programmes, he updates Berger's Ways of Seeing, inviting contemporary artists to explore how the technology we use every day has transformed the ways in which we see and are seen.

In the third episode, Digital Justice, James reveals how certain outdated attitudes and prejudices seem to have been hardwired into today's technology. How can we all work towards reshaping the machines we use every day? Artists Morehshin Allahyari, Stephanie Dinkins and Zach Blas explain how they're reimagining our digital tools to better represent us all.

Producer: Steve Urquhart

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4

Photo: Morehshin Allahyari

Artist James Bridle considers how we can reshape technology to better represent us all.

Journalist and artist James Bridle examines how technology is changing visual culture.

04Cybernetic Forests20190508How is technology changing the way we see? The artist James Bridle reimagines John Berger's Ways of Seeing for the digital age, focusing on machines and the environment.

`We can only see what we look at. To look is an act of choice` - John Berger.

In 1972, Berger's seminal TV series and book changed perceptions of art and set out to reveal the language of images.

Of course, that was before the internet, smartphones, and social media took hold.

How do we see the world around us now? And, who are the artists urging us to look more closely?

James Bridle writes about the development of technology on our lives. His work has been exhibited at the V&A, the Barbican, in galleries worldwide, and online. In this series of four programmes, he updates Berger's Ways of Seeing, inviting contemporary artists to explore how the technology we use every day has transformed the ways in which we see and are seen.

In the final episode, Cybernetic Forests, James asks what it would it mean for a forest to own itself, for a glacier to take photographs, or for wind turbines to generate funding for scientific research. Artists taking radical steps to address issues like climate change and corporate control explain how they're rethinking and rebuilding some of the digital tools we use every day.

Contributors include Susan Schuppli, Taeyoon Choi, Kei Kreutler, Julian Oliver, Paul Seidler and Max Hampshire.

Producer: Steve Urquhart

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4

Photo: Taeyoon Choi

The artist James Bridle assesses the relationship between technology and the environment.

Journalist and artist James Bridle examines how technology is changing visual culture.