Sam Bell

Sam Bell is a PhD candidate at SOAS University of London, specializing in the history and theory of photography. 

Her research critically examines the socio-political and ethical dimensions of representation, documentation, and aesthetics in images of violence, centering on the work of South African photographer Jo Ractliffe. As a practicing photographer, Sam’s portfolio spans landscape, documentary, and portrait photography. 

This dual engagement—academic and practical—underscores her commitment to articulating complex narratives in landscapes, emphasizing the synergy between art, historical analysis, and field engagement. Sam holds an MSc from the University of Oxford and a BA from the University of British Columbia.

Sam's doctoral research at SOAS University in London critically examines the socio-political and ethical dimensions of photographic representations of violence, focusing on the aftermath and the broader concept of slow violence, which encompasses ecological and environmental degradation. Central to this inquiry is the work of South African photographer Jo Ractliffe, whose images serve as a primary case study for exploring the prolonged, insidious effects of violence on landscapes and communities. 

Sam's thesis seeks to extend the conventional understanding of violence to include its less visible, yet persistent forms. Integrating practice-based research methods,  engages directly with photographic techniques and processes to enhance their analytical perspectives, thus bridging theoretical discourse with tangible photographic practices. This approach not only deepens the analysis of Ractliffe’s work but also enriches Sams understanding of the medium's power to document and interpret both historical and ongoing forms of violence. Through this synthesis of practice and theory, Sam's work underscores the importance of visual media in conveying complex socio-political narratives and shaping public perceptions of violence and recovery. 

This project employs a multidisciplinary methodology, drawing from art history, geography, anthropology, and political studies. By examining how photography, particularly Ractliffe’s abstract depictions, mediates experiences and memories of violence, Sam's research contributes to a critical reevaluation of the ethics of visual representation. It aims to establish a more inclusive and critically engaged framework for analyzing the impact of violence through images, enhancing our global understanding of its long-term effects on society and the environment.