We all have images that we find unwatchable, whether for ethical, political, or sensory and affective reasons. From news coverage of terror attacks to viral videos of police brutality, and from graphic horror films to transgressive artworks, many of the images in our media culture might strike us as unsuitable for viewing. Yet what does it mean to proclaim something “unwatchable”: disturbing, revolting, poor, tedious, or literally inaccessible?
 
With over 50 original essays by leading scholars, artists, critics, and curators, this is the first book to trace the “unwatchable” across our contemporary media environment, in which viewers encounter difficult content on various screens and platforms. Appealing to a broad academic and general readership, the volume offers multidisciplinary approaches to the vast array of troubling images that circulate in global visual culture.  

Contributions by: Erika Balsom, Kenneth Berger, Susie Bright, Alex Bush, Alec Butler, Noel Carroll, Mel Chen, Jonathan Crary, Abigail De Kosnik, Samuel England, Mattias Frey, Peter Geimer, Michael Boyce Gillespie, Asbjørn Grønstad, Boris Groys, Frances Guerin, Jack Halberstam, Barbara Hammer, Julian Hanich, Stefano Harney, J. Hoberman, Lynne Joyrich, Alexandra Juhasz, E. Ann Kaplan, Katariina Kyrölä, Nathan Lee, Akira Lippit, Jennifer Malkowski, W.J.T. Mitchell, Brandy Monk-Payton, Fred Moten, Bill Nichols, Jan Olsson, Danielle Peers, Raul Perez, Mauro Resmini, B. Ruby Rich, Elif Rongen-Kaynakçi, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Rebecca Schneider, Jeffrey Sconce, Jared Sexton, Philipp Stiasny, Meghan Sutherland, Bennet Togler, Leshu Torchin, Alok Vaid-Menon, Christophe Wall-Romana, Meir Wigoder, Emily Wills, Federico Windhausen, Stanley Wolukau-Wanambwa, Genevieve Yue, Alenka Zupancic, Poulomi Saha, Vivian Sobchack