This visualisation communicates something about different scales of toxicity: the concrete pollution that the petrochemical industry generates, but also the toxic political and economic dimensions of these global networks in a particular place.
This visualization and caption advance ethnographic insight by revealing a piece of a methanol plant isolated from its complex. This out of context perspective allows the viewer to more fully reflect on both the scale of the production process, as well as the entire supply chain infrastructure required. The un-natural aesthetics of the structure in this format also communicate or foreshadow the toxicity of petrochemical production and emissions.
The caption may consider elabourating slightly more on the overall extent of this process- how many pieces such as this are required for a typical petrochemical plant? Is this work considered dangerous or precarious for either the workers involved in transport? Does this type of construction of plants add any additional risks to their function, i.e. less toxic reduction devices as they are pre-assembled? How much fossil fuels are required for this type of transport?
This found image is of a part of a methanol chemical plant being transported on a rail car. The image is compelling, as the proportions of the cargo and the infrastructure supporting it do not seem to match. The image almost conveys a sense that the bridge might collapse at any moment, and definitely an affect of unease.
One possibility would be to juxtapose this piece of a petrochemical plant with the finished petrochemical plant. This image is already very powerful however. Another option would be to slightly lighten the shadows so a little more detail is visible.
The visualization and caption demonstrate the extreme form of infrastructure required for the methanol production process, questioning the taken-for-granted nature of the entire supply chain, as well as the economies required to support this massive engineering feat.
The picture and caption are great. Extremely interesting. They communicate the importance and complexity of the interstitial in understanding how toxics affect the body. It advances ethnographic insight through drawing attention to a previously unknown space of toxic agency and affect. I would hesitate to call the interstitial 'less material' than the 'more material' structures, though.
Could you perhaps explain a little more about the case study of war veterans to really bring the ethnography to the forefront?
The image is found, from https://www.brmi.online/lymph?lightbox=dataItem-jk75ve9g.The nature of the image (a watercolour painting) is such that it adds a poeticness to the caption. It represents the caption well.
Perhaps highlighting the specific interstices in the image? Editing with toxics in the interstices or something like that?
