Visual Cultures in South-Eastern Europe – Elements of Decentered Theory

Abstract

Previous theory construction in the field of visual cultures has been primarily West biased. In an increasingly intensified scholarly debate since the middle of the twentieth century this has resulted in deficit-histories of non-Western visual cultures at best or in simple ignorance. Therefore decentred theory construction in the sense of not being focused on Western visual cultures is essential. Based on seven theses this paper attempts to contribute to theorizing, relevant to historical and present times, about visual cultures in South-Eastern Europe. However, we are at the beginnings of the beginnings.