Exceeding Crisis. The Psychic Life of Drawings

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Cultural Studies
• Migration Studies

Background:

• An unprecedented influx of migrants from Middle Eastern and African nations into Europe since 2015 has been framed as a crisis.
• This framing influences policy and public discourse, balancing humanitarian aid with stricter border controls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically analyze the "grammar of crisis" used to describe European migration.
• To explore how this crisis discourse enables and disables specific forms of care.
• To investigate alternative practices and artistic expressions that challenge the crisis narrative.

Main Methods:

• Critical discourse analysis of media and political language surrounding the migration.
• Exploration of artistic practices by Tunisian and Nigerian painters as case studies.
• Philosophical reflection on ethics, care, and alternative grammars.

Main Results:

• The "crisis" framing necessitates a dual response of humanitarianism and securitization, potentially limiting comprehensive care.
• Artistic practices can offer "interruptions" to the crisis discourse, revealing alternative ethical and therapeutic explorations.
• These practices highlight a "denial" or "interruption" in the dominant language of crisis and pathology.

Conclusions:

• Rethinking the language used to describe migration is crucial for developing more inclusive and effective forms of care.
• Artistic and cultural practices can serve as vital tools for challenging dominant narratives and fostering new ethical frameworks.
• Moving beyond the crisis paradigm is essential for addressing the complexities of human movement and upholding human rights principles.