This is an FCT-funded Exploratory Project (reference 2024.13064.PEX), scheduled to start in early 2026, hosted by CICANT.
This study explores how modern photography is created in Portugal through Instagram, focusing on four main aspects: technology (like digital cameras and social media), politics (platform rules and laws), economy (how creators earn money), and society (interpersonal risks). It examines photographers who challenge what we consider art, like nude or erotic images. The research uses various methods to understand these artists' experiences, such as online surveys, interviews, and analysing data from digital diaries and image collections.
It aims to highlight the diverse ways people express themselves on social media while dealing with risks of having content removed or their profiles banned. By involving community members early and sharing findings through exhibits and a book, this research seeks to increase visibility for Portuguese photographers and models and foster social media companies' accountability in digital spaces.
More information here: CICANT.
(Actively under update)