Visuality and ecocide: images against oil exploitation on the Atlantic coast (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Abstract

This paper proposes to analyze the visuality constructed in rejection of potential oil exploitation on the Atlantic coast (province of Buenos Aires, Argentina). These critical actions are part of the set of socio-environmental demands that currently oppose the development model based on extractivism. On the one hand, some images produced in the marches called Atlanticazo will be studied. On the other hand, the creation of a small image, called San Lobito de Mar, will be analyzed, accompanied by a prayer for protection against harmful human action. It is concluded that the images studied have a counter-visual potential: they give an active role to living beings and their environment, from the demand of the right to live and exist and not as resources to be exploited by humans. The methodology is qualitative, based on interviews with activists, iconographic analysis and information collection on social networks and digital media. The theoretical framework recovers tools provided by Visual Studies, Political Theory and Political Ecology.