Understanding nanoscopical images and exosomatic vision through visual literacy.

Abstract: In this paper I explore the visual literacy of images produced by nanoscopes picturing objects the naked eye cannot see. In the first part of the paper I introduce three nanoscopical images supposed to be read without knowing what they are picturing, and how they are produced. Visual literacy and exosomatic vision are introduced and used to open for a discussion whether the images are read or observed, and if we can believe what we see. In the second part I explain what a nanoscope, and a nanoscopical image is, through their technical specifications, as well as exploring foundational aspects of the nanoscope such as light, and lasers, with works provided by scientists such as Vlatko Vedral, Stephen Hawking, and, inventor of the nanoscope, Eric Betzig. The technological tool is related to a cultural framework by referring to the work of Lynn Åkesson and Susanne Lundin, and their book Amalgamations: fusing technology and culture. In the third part of the paper I provide a deeper analyzation of the three images, connecting to the first part and comparing how my perception and visual literacy has changed by gained knowledge. This moves through a discussion of how the information provided by my sources has differed in difficulty, and how the images and their captions give credibility to the science, as well as whether this information has proved vital or not for understanding.