A vocabulary for the future: touch
Karen Barad’s meditation on touch dismantles the intuitive notion of physical contact as a simple meeting of bodies, revealing it instead as a fundamental paradox of repulsion and attraction at the heart of matter itself. By weaving quantum field theory with feminist theory, Barad challenges classical physics’ binary of separation, proposing that touch is not a failed convergence but the very condition of existence. The collaboration with digital artist Blanca Rego transforms this philosophical provocation into a visual inquiry, urging us to reconsider the language we use to describe our most intimate interactions with the world.
How does Barad’s interpretation of touch challenge classical physics?
Barad argues that classical physics’ understanding of touch as a meeting of distinct bodies is flawed, since what we perceive as contact is actually electromagnetic repulsion between atoms that never truly converge. She reframes touch not as a failed interaction but as a constitutive process, drawing on quantum field theory to suggest that matter is inherently entangled and that touch is intrinsic to its very being.
What role does quantum field theory play in Barad’s argument?
Quantum field theory underpins Barad’s claim that matter lacks stable, self-contained identities, as it posits that entities are fundamentally entangled with their surroundings from the outset. This perspective shifts the focus from touch as an external interaction to a phenomenon that is already embedded in the fabric of reality, redefining it as a relational and generative force rather than a discrete event.
Who are the key collaborators in this project, and what is their contribution?
The project pairs theoretical physicist and feminist theorist Karen Barad with digital artist Blanca Rego. Barad provides the conceptual framework, drawing from her essay On Touching—The Inhuman That Therefore I Am, while Rego translates these ideas into mesmerising visuals, creating a synergy between philosophical inquiry and artistic interpretation.
What is the broader aim of the A Vocabulary for the Future series?
The series, produced by the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, invites notable thinkers to reflect on a chosen word and collaborate with filmmakers to reimagine language visually. The goal is to prompt viewers to see familiar terms anew, fostering a reconsideration of language as a tool for envisioning and shaping a better future.
Ce que ça pourrait changer
Barad’s reframing of touch could reshape how we understand not only physical interactions but also social and ethical relations, emphasizing entanglement over separation. This perspective may influence fields ranging from material science to social theory, encouraging a shift toward relational ontologies that prioritize interconnectedness. However, it also raises questions about the limits of human perception and the challenges of translating such abstract ideas into practical applications.
