Visual Cultures of the Banlieues: Precarious Peripheries or Creative Centres?

Abstract

The Parisian banlieues have long been depicted through harmful stereotypes in political speeches, the press and mainstream film as places of violence, crime and poverty, and of social, racial and religious divisions. In this article, Ashley Harris demonstrates the impact of different modes of visual culture upon the thousands of communities in the banlieues and, more broadly, to examine the significance of visual representations for their potential to create, reinforce or challenge inequalities and injustices. Using critical cartographical theory and an intermedial approach, this article assesses the impact of representation upon the banlieues, considering mainstream dominant narratives and grassroots visual cultures. It argues that grassroots visual cultures produces a more nuanced and integrated depiction of the banlieues. Through a comparative study of Sandrine Madji's blog ‘Ma Petite Banlieue’ and Aristide Barraud's creative works on Les Bosquets, this article asserts the possibility of reconsidering the banlieues as creative centres, rather than precarious peripheries.