Schoeman, Gerhard2017-08-222017-08-222009Schoeman, G. (2009). Thinking in the dark of William Kentridge's Black box/Chambre noire: reflections within reflections. Acta Academica, 41(2), 1-49.0587-2405 (print)2415-0479 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/6624English: This article explores contemporary art historical practice, by considering a number of critical concepts, as these relate discursively to William Kentridge’s multi-media artwork Black box/Chambre noire (2005). Walter Benjamin’s concept “thinking in images” (Bilddenken) forms the theoretical basis for a reflection on art historical practice viewed as, to borrow a powerful metaphor of Frederic Schwartz, “thinking in the dark”. W J T Mitchell’s concept of metapictures is adopted as a means to interpret selected images that appear to “think” or “sense” our interpretation of them, while they reflect on their processes of coming to be. W J T Mitchell is followed in considering “the picture-beholder relationship as a field of mutual desire”.Afrikaans: Die artikel ondersoek die hedendaagse beoefening van die kunsgeskiedenis deur ’n aantal kritiese konsepte wat diskursief verband hou met William Kentridge se multimedia kunswerk Black box/Chambre noire (2005) te oorweeg. Die “beelddenke” (Bilddenken) van Walter Benjamin bied ’n teoretiese basis vir nadenke oor beoefening van kunsgeskiedenis as “denke in die duister” met verwysing na Frederic Schwartz se treffende “thinking in the dark” metafoor. Die metaprent opvatting van W J T Mitchell word gebruik in die interpretasie van bepaalde voorstellings wat klaarblyklik “dink” of “bewus” is van hoe ons hul interpreteer, siende dat hulle hul ontstaansprosesse reflekteer. W J T Mitchell se beskouing van “the picture-beholder relationship as a field of mutual desire” word beaam.enKentridge, WilliamThinking in the darkContemporary artMulti-media artworkArticleUniversity of the Free State