The Pseudo-event…a necessary evil

This week’s Visual Communication readings centered around a discussion of how images contribute to and shape public opinion. Some of the buzzwords that came out of the articles are visual rhetoric, propaganda and pseudo-events. Funny that all of these words give off a slightly negative connotation.

I was particularly struck by the DeLuca & Peeples article: From public sphere to public screen: democracy, activism and the violence of Seattle. It provided a good frame I think for thinking about how violence and other image events serve the purpose of thrusting an issue into the limelight. But what also emerged from the article was the realization that our seemingly increasing tendency to privilege the dramatic image event can seriously marginalize the attention that certain issues/segements of society receive.

Undoubtedly this state of events is preferrable to total ignorance of any of society’s issues but it does raise some interesting thoughts on why public relations/public affairs is necessary especially for non-profit who represent under-represented organizations or issues.

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