New Ways of Seeing is a four-part radio show written and presented by James Bridle, and produced by Steve Urquhart and Reduced Listening for BBC Radio 4.

It was broadcast over four weeks from the 17th of April 2019, on Wednesdays at 9am and 9.30pm.

New Ways of Seeing considers the impact of digital technologies on the way we see, understand, and interact with the world. Building on John Berger's seminal Ways of Seeing from 1972, the show explores network infrastructures, digital images, systemic bias, education and the environment, in conversation with a number of contemporary art practitioners.

→ The Times Radio Pick of the Week, 14th April 2019

→ The Guardian introduction to the series

You can listen to the show on BBC Sounds, via the links below, or on Soundcloud:

Episode 1: Invisible Networks (first broadcast 17th April 2019)

James Bridle looks for the hidden, physical infrastructure of the internet. Does it matter that it’s been swept out of sight? Artists Ingrid Burrington, Trevor Paglen, Olia Lialina, Julian Oliver and Danja Vasiliev explain why they’re compelled to show us what’s really going on, beneath the surface.

Featured in this episode:

→ Episode One Transcript

Episode 2: Machine Visions (first broadcast 24th April 2019)

James Bridle investigates the true meaning of images today. In an era of face-swap and video generation technologies, fake news and conspiracy theory, how has digitisation altered the nature, reliability and power of images? Artists Hito Steyerl, Constant Dullaart and Adam Harvey explore how digital images have become so much more than mere pictures.

Featured in this episode:

→ Episode Two Transcript

Episode 3: Digital Justice (first broadcast 1st May 2019)

James Bridle reveals how outdated attitudes and prejudices seem to have been “hardwired” into today’s technology. How can we all work towards reshaping the machines we use every day? Artists Morehshin Allahyari, Stephanie Dinkins and Zach Blas explain how they’re reimagining our digital tools, to better represent us all.

Featured in this episode:

→ Episode Three Transcript

Episode 4: Cybernetic Forests (first broadcast 8th May 2019)

James Bridle asks: what would it mean for a forest to own itself? For a glacier to take photographs? Or, for wind turbines to generate funding for scientific research? Artists taking radical steps to address issues like climate change and corporate control explain how they’re rethinking and rebuilding some of the digital tools we use every day.

Featured in this episode:

→ Episode Four Transcript