Portraits of Automated Facial Recognition: On Machinic Ways of Seeing the Face (Image)

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. Through a critical perspective on visual culture studies, this book offers a unique analysis of the use of automated facial recognition algorithms as they increasingly intervene in society. The first part of this study traces the history of merging statistics and vision by reviewing the example of an early facial recognition algorithm called »eigenface«, while the second part addresses contemporary artistic interventions including the work of Thomas Ruff, Zach Blas and Trevor Paglen. This book argues for a closer look at automated facial recognition based on an understanding of its technical processes as not only embedded in historical practices of visuality, but also as redefining what it means to see and be seen in the present. Table of Contents Abstract Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Introduction Part I: Aesthetics of an Algorithm Chapter 2: Eigenface Chapter 3: Francis Galton and the Composite Portrait Chapter 4: Wittgenstein and the Composite Portrait Part II: Artistic Interventions Chapter 5: Portraiture in the Age of AFR Chapter 6: Metaportraits: Thomas Ruff, andere Portraits Chapter 7: Faces in Excess: Zach Blas, Facial Weaponization Suite Chapter 8: An Algorithmic Ready-made: Trevor Paglen, Adversarially Evolved Hallucination and Eigenface (Even The Dead Are Not Safe) Chapter 9: Conclusion References List of Images This book offers a unique analysis on the use of automatic facial recognition algorithms that are increasingly intervening in society from a critical visual studies perceptive. [...]