Drawing on Visual Culture theory, this in-depth analysis stresses the importance of a greater awareness of the impact of images and their implication in politics. In the context of counter-terrorism it is crucial to show the process of image formation, instead of keeping the dynamics of visuality on an implicit level. In addressing terrorism, the use of images is not innocent: they not only show a potential threat, but also contribute to defining the enemy by repeating stereotypes from media sources.
The Counter-Terrorism Training Programs designed for the Dutch police force include many images that are intended to provide a historical background and enable a nuanced understanding of terrorism. In the age of mass media, however, the police are exposed to many images in a variety of contexts. This inevitably influences the image of the terrorist, and therefore the image of ‘the enemy’ in the police training program. As a result, an ambiguous enemy image emerges, representing the terrorist as an unknown and vague entity, most likely male and Muslim. The author links this ambiguity to the lack of debate on the political context of images and their interpretation in the media. More specifically, the representation of a vague enemy image is related to a deep-seated need for a sense of national identity – ‘us’ against ‘them’. |