Captured ‘Realities’ of Human Trafficking: Analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in Serbian media
Past research has looked at how the media frames human trafficking, but has seldom included analysis of visual representations. To bridge this gap, this paper scrutinises stereotypical representations of persons trafficked into the sex industry in photographs published in Serbian online media from 2...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Anti-Trafficking Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/atrjournal/article/view/204 |
| _version_ | 1827958560522240000 |
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| author | Elena Krsmanovic |
| author_facet | Elena Krsmanovic |
| author_sort | Elena Krsmanovic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Past research has looked at how the media frames human trafficking, but has seldom included analysis of visual representations. To bridge this gap, this paper scrutinises stereotypical representations of persons trafficked into the sex industry in photographs published in Serbian online media from 2011 to 2014. To uncover characteristics of dominant tropes in this sample, a method of semiotic analysis is applied. The analysis argues that images are dominated by portrayals of trafficked persons that fit into one of two frames: powerless victim or unworthy prostitute. Male figures are rarely presented in these photographs, but when present, they are shown to hurt or control the women depicted alongside them. Chains, padlocks, barcodes, whip marks, and other symbols associated with slavery are present to a lesser extent. However, they testify to the tendency to link human trafficking to slavery and to use the moral potential of the anti-slavery rhetoric. Photographs are too easily seen as authentic, factual transcripts of reality. This paper suggests that these images tell us more about societal fear of insecurity, ideas about gender, erotic obsessions and morality than about human trafficking itself. It also argues that the meaning of trafficking is shaped by the deeply embedded codes of patriarchy and hidden misogyny present in Serbian society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:38:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a6260d1cfab43c1af7719d8acbc3a1f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2286-7511 2287-0113 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:38:25Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Anti-Trafficking Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a6260d1cfab43c1af7719d8acbc3a1f2023-04-27T16:13:57ZengGlobal Alliance Against Traffic in WomenAnti-Trafficking Review2286-75112287-01132016-09-01713916010.14197/atr.20121778173Captured ‘Realities’ of Human Trafficking: Analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in Serbian mediaElena KrsmanovicPast research has looked at how the media frames human trafficking, but has seldom included analysis of visual representations. To bridge this gap, this paper scrutinises stereotypical representations of persons trafficked into the sex industry in photographs published in Serbian online media from 2011 to 2014. To uncover characteristics of dominant tropes in this sample, a method of semiotic analysis is applied. The analysis argues that images are dominated by portrayals of trafficked persons that fit into one of two frames: powerless victim or unworthy prostitute. Male figures are rarely presented in these photographs, but when present, they are shown to hurt or control the women depicted alongside them. Chains, padlocks, barcodes, whip marks, and other symbols associated with slavery are present to a lesser extent. However, they testify to the tendency to link human trafficking to slavery and to use the moral potential of the anti-slavery rhetoric. Photographs are too easily seen as authentic, factual transcripts of reality. This paper suggests that these images tell us more about societal fear of insecurity, ideas about gender, erotic obsessions and morality than about human trafficking itself. It also argues that the meaning of trafficking is shaped by the deeply embedded codes of patriarchy and hidden misogyny present in Serbian society.https://antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/atrjournal/article/view/204human traffickingtrafficking into the sex industryvisual representationmedia photographsimages of human traffickingserbiabalkanseastern europe |
| spellingShingle | Elena Krsmanovic Captured ‘Realities’ of Human Trafficking: Analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in Serbian media Anti-Trafficking Review human trafficking trafficking into the sex industry visual representation media photographs images of human trafficking serbia balkans eastern europe |
| title | Captured ‘Realities’ of Human Trafficking: Analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in Serbian media |
| title_full | Captured ‘Realities’ of Human Trafficking: Analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in Serbian media |
| title_fullStr | Captured ‘Realities’ of Human Trafficking: Analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in Serbian media |
| title_full_unstemmed | Captured ‘Realities’ of Human Trafficking: Analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in Serbian media |
| title_short | Captured ‘Realities’ of Human Trafficking: Analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in Serbian media |
| title_sort | captured realities of human trafficking analysis of photographs illustrating stories on trafficking into the sex industry in serbian media |
| topic | human trafficking trafficking into the sex industry visual representation media photographs images of human trafficking serbia balkans eastern europe |
| url | https://antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/atrjournal/article/view/204 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elenakrsmanovic capturedrealitiesofhumantraffickinganalysisofphotographsillustratingstoriesontraffickingintothesexindustryinserbianmedia |