[CESERH] IMACTIS Research Seminar. Images Today org. by DONDERO & D’ARMENIO (15/03/22) - Seance 7

[CESERH] IMACTIS Research Seminar. Images Today org. by DONDERO & D’ARMENIO (15/03/22) - Seance 7

[CESERH] IMACTIS Research Seminar. Images Today org. by DONDERO & D’ARMENIO (15/03/22) - Session 7

🎙 Centre de Sémiotique & Rhétorique - ULiège 👥 178 📅 March 16, 2022 ⏱ 137 min 👁 36 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-10-09
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

peinturearchivage numériquesémiotiqueprésenceintégration conceptuelle

Summary

The video is a recording of the seventh session of the IMACTIS research seminar on images, organized by Dondero and D’Armenio at the University of Liège. The session features two presentations. The first, by Nicolas Couégnas from the University of Limoges, addresses the challenges of archiving and representing paintings through digital media. Couégnas introduces the work of an obscure French painter, Georges Laurent, discovered in Limousin, and discusses the tension between the material presence of the painting and its digital reproduction. Drawing on Bruno Latour’s phenomenology of images and the theory of conceptual blending by Fauconnier and Turner, he proposes a three-phase protocol for experiencing a painting: entry into the pictorial space, the pivotal moment of meaning-making, and the existential affirmation of the work. He contrasts different forms of reproduction, from simple indexical copies to immersive and discursive dispositifs, and argues that certain digital tools can partially compensate for the loss of presence. The second presentation, by Dario Compagno, is announced but not fully captured in the transcript; it presumably addresses methods for moving from correlation to meaning in image analysis. Overall, the seminar offers an in-depth scholarly discussion of the semiotics and ontology of painting in the digital age.

200 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of the information lies in its original approach to a practical problem—how to preserve and transmit the experience of a painting through digital means. Couégnas skillfully integrates phenomenology, semiotics, and cognitive linguistics to construct a rigorous argument. He builds his case by first outlining the limitations of digital reproduction (loss of texture, scale, chromatic variation), then reviews existing technological solutions (high-definition apps, videos, immersive installations), and finally proposes a structured protocol based on conceptual blending theory. The argumentation is solid and well-supported by references to prominent theorists such as Latour, Fauconnier, and Turner, as well as art historians like Eric de Chassey. However, the presentation is somewhat dense and assumes familiarity with semiotic terminology, which may limit accessibility. The verbal delivery is clear despite occasional transcription errors, and the speaker effectively combines theoretical discussion with concrete examples from the painter’s corpus.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The video is a scientific seminar, and the sources cited are academic works and theories. The speaker explicitly references Bruno Latour, Gilles Fauconnier, Mark Turner, Daniel Arasse, and Eric de Chassey, among others. No URLs are provided in the description, but the citations are plausible and well-known in their fields. The title of the video accurately reflects the seminar series and the announced topics. The two presentations are distinct and each deals with aspects of image analysis from a semiotic perspective. The title’s reference to ‘Images Today’ and the organizers’ names is consistent with the academic context. The content fulfills the expectations set by the title, though the second presentation is not captured in the provided transcript. Overall, the sourcing is rigorous and the title-content adequacy is high.

286 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the seminar series and the announced topics; the content matches the description.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

Academic seminar with rigorous theoretical references (Latour, Fauconnier, Turner) and a well-structured argument on painting and digital archiving.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

  • Latour, B. (2010) - 'Being Iconic' or similar work on the phenomenology of images — Referenced in relation to the phenomenology of image flow and the description of different media.
  • Arasse, D. - Podcast series on the history of painting — Cited as an exemplary discursive and audio commentary that creates a form of epiphany.
  • Chassey, E. de - 'Après la fin : suspension et reprise de la peinture dans les années soixante-dix' — Cited to discuss the historical context of painting after its declared end.
  • Fauconnier, G. & Turner, M. - Conceptual blending theory — Used to systematically describe the creative experience of noticing a painting.

Contribution & Novelties

The main contribution is the proposal of an experiential protocol for encountering paintings, derived from conceptual blending theory and applied to a specific corpus. This offers a structured alternative to the often vague discussion of aesthetic experience. The video also contributes to the semiotics of digitization by distinguishing various statuses of image reproduction (indexical, enonciative, discursive) and their potential to restore presence. It addresses a real practical problem for museums and archives with a theoretically grounded approach.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Conceptual blending — Core theory used for the three-phase protocol.
  • Bruno Latour — Influential thinker on images and media cited in the talk.
  • Daniel Arasse — Art historian known for his analyses of painting; his podcasts are referenced as exemplary.

122 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quantity, quality, and reliability, reflecting a dense and well-supported academic talk. The technical level is moderately high, due to the use of specialized semiotic concepts, which might require some background knowledge.

Reliability 8/10