This thesis examines how photographers have dealt with the atomic age and predominantly been excited by it – by the awe of atomic explosions, the toxic landscapes they create, or the post-human landscapes nuclear war promises. A handful of photographers have responded to the disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima and the ongoing global problem of nuclear waste, engaging in nuanced photographic projects that investigate the atomic age beyond the fetishisation of ‘bombs and reactors’. They explore the nuclearity of landscapes, spaces and objects – that are ‘nuclear’ but not ‘bombs and reactors’. The thesis includes the researcher's own photographic project to document nuclearity in and around Cape Town, South Africa.
Researcher
Dr Neil Overy is an environmental researcher, writer and photographer. He has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years and is particularly interested in the intersection between environmental and social justice issues. He recently completed an MPhil in Environmental Humanities South at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.