The New Visibility

The development of modern communication media has been attended by the growth of mediated interaction which, compared to face-to-face interaction, is free of the constraints of co-presence. An interactional theory of communication furthers our understanding of the origins and importance of the “new visibility” accompanying this process. Because it profoundly changes the modalities of public appearance, “new visibility” impacts on the ways in which political power is used. Those who wield power rely on this visibility but also have to accept that it can turn against them at any stage. Public visibility has therefore become a stake in conflicts and a key component of social and political struggles.