Visual Ethics Network (VEN)

The Visual Ethics Network (VEN) was founded in 2022 as a Research Strand of the Centre for Modern Studies (CModS) of the University of York.

Between 2022 to 2025, the Visual Ethics Network was funded by CModS and co-organised by Dr Kyveli Lignou-Tsamantani and Dr James Boaden (Senior Lecturer, University of York). 

In today’s world of image proliferation - in which visual material are encountered via traditional and social media - complex socio-political messages are often conveyed through a single image. In this context, the ethics of representation become more pressing than ever. The aim of the network is to explore various facets of ethical questions pertinent to the production of art as to that of media images. This project explores the scope of this interdisciplinary field by examining material dating from the invention of photography to the present day. 

One of the core aims of the Visual Ethics Network (VEN) is to bring together scholars and creative practitioners from a wide variety of fields in order to foster discussions and further collaborations between members of the network and beyond. From 2026, the Network is running between the University of York and York St John University.

Anyone that is interested to sign-up to the Network mailing list can do so via the Visual Ethics Network about page or by emailing Kyveli at k.lignoutsamantani@yorksj.ac.uk.

The network has organised a variety of talks, research events and workshops, the details of which can be found on the Visual Ethics Network website.

We welcome research from the following areas:

• Ethics and politics of images
• Ethics of representation
• Ethics of photography and art
• Ethics of spectatorship(s)
• Curatorial ethics
• Ethics of image-word relations