What roles do images play in perpetuating carceral violence? Introduced by film scholar and curator Nadica Denić, this evening explores this question through the lens of two of Farocki's films: Prison Images (2000) and I thought I was Seeing Convicts (2000). In these films, Farocki turns to the surveillance practices of the U.S. prison system and the relationship between images, power, and violence. He explores diverse practices of control which have come to define our present political moment, from border surveillance to police bodycams.

As a filmmaker Farocki viewed surveillance footage as ‘operative images’: the footage of the inmates provides data, used to further regulate their behavior. In turn, through the recycling and reframing of such images, Farocki’s essayistic practice productively activates the possibilities of sousveillance. This counter-gaze exposes practices of control and reveals tactics of manipulating the surveillance system.

Nadica Denić is a film scholar and curator focused on the entanglement of film and contemporary political developments, with an interest in migration, conflict, and risk. She is a Lecturer in Media and Culture at the University of Amsterdam.

This evening is part of Systems for Agitation: A Harun Farocki Retrospective bringing together a selection of Farocki’s films and installations, alongside a series of collaborative events from 17 April to 24 May.