Taxonomy of the Barricade

Visual Control by Wolfgang Scheppe presents a detailed iconographic study of state and police surveillance during the May 1968 Paris protests. This book features nearly 500 images from the police archives, documenting the evolution of visual control strategies during France’s state of emergency.

Analyzing the historical moment of general strikes and factory occupations, Scheppe uncovers how the government employed aerial photography and other surveillance techniques for crowd control. The project traces the development of modern technologies like drones and facial recognition, showing their roots in this critical period of visual governance.

Awarded the FLAT Prize in 2019, Visual Control is a vital resource for historians, scholars, and those interested in surveillance and political strategies.