Portraits of Automated Facial Recognition: On Machinic Ways Of Seeing The Face

Description

Automated facial recognition algorithms are increasingly intervening in society. This book offers a unique analysis of these algorithms from a critical visual culture studies perspective. The first part of this study examines the example of an early facial recognition algorithm called »eigenface« and traces a history of the merging of statistics and vision. The second part addresses contemporary artistic engagements with facial recognition technology in the work of Thomas Ruff, Zach Blas, and Trevor Paglen. This book argues that we must take a closer look at the technology of automated facial recognition and claims that its forms of representation are embedded with visual politics. Even more significantly, this technology is redefining what it means to see and be seen in the contemporary world. Cover ......Page 1 Table of Contents......Page 6 Abstract......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Chapter 1: Introduction......Page 16 Part I: Aesthetics of an Algorithm......Page 54 Chapter 2: Eigenface......Page 56 Chapter 3: Francis Galton and the Composite Portrait......Page 86 Chapter 4: Wittgenstein and the Composite Portrait......Page 102 Part II: Artistic Interventions......Page 116 Chapter 5: Portraiture in the Age of AFR......Page 118 Chapter 6: Metaportraits: Thomas Ruff, andere Portraits......Page 126 Chapter 7: Faces in Excess: Zach Blas, Facial Weaponization Suite......Page 142 Chapter 8: An Algorithmic Ready-made: Trevor Paglen, Adversarially Evolved Hallucination and Eigenface (Even The Dead Are Not Safe)......Page 160 Chapter 9: Conclusion......Page 178 References......Page 188 List of Images......Page 196