Chiaroscuro and hauntology, unseen.
Echoes of epochs, in twilight’s cascade,
Whispers of yesteryears, in ghostly charade.
About this blog
Chiaroscuro and hauntology reverberate in mutual resonance, intertwining shadows and apparitions throughout the fabric of time. Chiaroscuro, a term from the Italian words ‘chiaro’ (meaning light) and ‘scuro’ (meaning dark), embodies an age-old artistic technique renowned for its masterful manipulation of light and shadow. Through contrasts and subtle gradations, chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth, drama, and emotion within paintings, sculptures, and other visual mediums. It casts shadows that evoke mystery, accentuates highlights that draw the eye, and lends a dynamic quality to the composition. Artists throughout history, from the Renaissance masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio to modern practitioners, have used chiaroscuro to imbue their works with a heightened sense of realism and theatricality. On the other hand, hauntology, a term popularised by the Algerian-French philosopher Jacques Derrida, explores the spectral realms of memory, history, and the unconscious. It probes the lingering presence of what is absent, the echoes of forgotten events, and the unresolved tensions that persist in the collective psyche. Hauntology challenges conventional notions of time and space, suggesting that the past is not a static entity confined to history books but an active force that continues to shape our present realities, and it invites us to confront the ghosts of our pasts, to reckon with the legacies of trauma and injustice, and to acknowledge the spectral traces that haunt our cultural landscapes.
The resonance between chiaroscuro and hauntology holds significance for me, as it mirrors the essence of what I aim to achieve with this scholarly blog. In naming it ‘The Chiaroscuro’, I am seeking to encapsulate the dynamic between light and shadow, past and present, that defines both concepts. Just as chiaroscuro breathes life into artworks by revealing depth and emotion through contrasts, hauntology illuminates the hidden recesses of our collective consciousness, where memories and ghosts linger in the shadows, and by intertwining these two themes, I hope to create a space where scholars can look into the knottiness of human existence, where they navigate the murky depths of history and the enigmatic beauty of existence.
Through the juxtaposition of chiaroscuro and hauntology, I extend a warm invitation to scholars/writers from diverse backgrounds and fields to contribute their insights, perspectives, and research findings to this platform. Much like an artist carefully applies layers of light and shadow to a canvas, scholars illuminate the entanglements of hauntology and its resonance with other disciplines, and together, we can begin a journey through the shadowy recesses of history, exploring the interaction between presence and absence, memory and forgetting. By embracing the chiaroscuro of life, we can uncover new insights, challenge conventional wisdom, and forge connections across diverse fields of study.
So, welcome to The Chiaroscuro, where light and dark converge, and where scholars are invited to shine a light on the hidden mysteries of existence.
About getting around the chiaroscuro
Please be aware that the mobile version of the website may have limited features; thus, optimal viewing is recommended through the web version, and upon accessing the web version, labels situated on the left side of the blog facilitate navigation to related posts. Furthermore, the blog archive serves as a resource for retrieving and locating articles.
The homepage exclusively displays the seven latest posts. To explore past content, click the older posts button located in the bottom-right corner of the blog. Additionally, use the ‘search this blog’ function positioned at the top left.
GHOSTLY NEWSFLASH serves as a hub for announcing the work of upcoming contributors, as well as sharing news and updates related to The Chiaroscuro and its future directions.
About functionality
This intellectual enclave, overseen by Lance, beckons scholars/writers to explore the heterogeneous blend of applications of hauntology across various domains. For enquiries, contact shp48@cam.ac.uk
Here are a few pointers for your posts on The Chiaroscuro: ideally, aim for a length of 1200-1500 words, excluding references. Feel free to include references within the main text using a standard name-date system, and if you need to use endnotes, please keep them to a minimum. When submitting your post, ensure it’s in Word docs, not PDFs, and include a high-resolution picture along with a brief bio. Also, include 3 to 5 broad keywords, such as ‘creativity’ or ‘methodology’, to facilitate easy categorisation and enable readers to discover your posts based on pertinent tags. You can send your entry directly to chiaroscuroreflections@gmail.com
About a month before your deadline, managing editor will reach out with a reminder, but it’s always good to have the firm deadline marked in your calendar just in case. Once you send your post, it’s considered final; I usually only make light edits for typos, etc. Unsolicited contributions are highly appreciated at this time.
It should also be noted that content published on The Chiaroscuro is governed by the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence, allowing contributors to publish their work elsewhere after it appears on the blog or to deposit it as a preprint in their institution, provided they abide by the terms of the licence.
About (indefinitely) encouraging submissions
The Chiaroscuro extends an indefinite invitation for submissions, unless otherwise specified. I welcome a diverse array of submissions spanning academic discourse, creative compositions, poetic expressions, and multimedia presentations. Authors are encouraged to directly forward their contributions via email. I maintain a flexible approach regarding formatting and word count, with accommodations subject to negotiation between the author and the editorial team.
It is pertinent to note that this platform operates on a voluntary basis and is devoid of external funding, hence I appreciate your patience if there are delays in the response or in managing submissions.
About the overseer
Hello! I’m Lance, finalising my PhD at Cambridge’s Faculty of Education and soon to start as a research associate at Falmouth University’s Centre for Blended Realities. Being a proponent of perspectives on the uncanny, the enduring influence of the past, and the exploration of societal anxieties and desires, I invest time in crafting a phantasmagoria of articles examining their relevance across different domains. At logy-haunto jotter, I curate my collection of writings on hauntology and the lens of monster culture.
I decided to start this blog during the interim period between completing my thesis and the subsequent stages of proofreading, typesetting, and revisions. This idea has been brewing for quite some time, especially since I’ve been invited to contribute to other blogs multiple times during my PhD journey. Taking inspiration from Amy Kind’s The Junkyard and students of sociology based in India’s Doing Sociology, I’ve made this exciting decision to create a blog that blends academic and non-academic content, centred around hauntology and its related viewpoints.
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