Artful discourses of haalaat (حالات): The psycho-techno politics of fear and safety in Kashmir

This study examines the online public discourse of fear and safety, shifting the psycho-techno dimensions of the political discourse in Jammu and Kashmir. The persistent sense of fear in the region is deeply rooted in its ongoing political instability. Drawing on the discourse theory, it explores artists’ perceptions of fear and safety in the conflict-hit South Asian region. The case study method was employed to thoroughly examine how fear and safety influence public perception and artistic outcomes. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), I investigated how digital discourses affect the perceptions of non-local artists regarding the Himalayan valley. Three significant themes emerged from the analysis: algorithmic sociopolitical assumptions, the dynamics of haalaat and the mediatized architecture of information, each contributing to a nuanced understanding of the underlying political structures and discourses. Additionally, I examined the Google keyword search algorithm for safety in Kashmir to understand the underlying factors influencing the psychological and technological dimensions of safety narratives and the subsequent perception of fear. I argue that online public discourse surrounding fear and safety in Kashmir reflects the region’s ongoing political instability, particularly as perceived and represented by non-local artists. Physical and digital experiences shape the artistic expressions of audiences, embedding nuanced interpretations of the valley’s sociopolitical discourses within their creative output. Mediatized information reflects and amplifies commonly searched queries, subtly shaping public perceptions and imaginaries associated with the region. These mediated perceptions, often detached from lived realities, influence individual decision-making processes and inform the creative practices of those engaging with Kashmir indirectly.