Sounding of the idols. Visual deception and religious images in Brazil

Abstract

This article is a visual analysis of “deceptive religious imagery” employed by the campaign teams of Bolsonaro and Lula during the 2022 Brazilian presidential race with the aim of garnering votes through networked disinformation and covert influence operations. Employing a multimodal analytical approach, the research delves into the intricate interplay between politics and religion, particularly through the lens of online engagement with deceptive imagery. It tracks the dissemination of deceptive religious imagery across digital and physical platforms, melding visual analysis with rigorous fact-checking methodologies. This investigation is based on online and off-line ethnographic visual research. Not only this research let us reassess key concepts like ‘false image’, ‘verification’ or ‘visual myth’ but also allowed us to identify and debunk false imagery propagated online. Drawing upon Mitchell's framework of ‘iconology’, the article advocates for a critical examination of images, underscoring their tangible influence and the imperative to expose and evaluate their falseness in shaping public opinion. The research stresses the significance of understanding the actions and repercussions of religious visual disinformation in the context of the prevalence of post-truth cultures. In sum, this article contributes to our understanding of the intricate dynamics surrounding the utilisation of deceptive religious imagery in political campaigns, shedding light on the broader implications for democratic processes and the manipulation of public perception in contemporary socio-political contexts.