The visual economy of migration and the production of crisis. Two cases in question: Norte de Santander and the Darien

This paper examines the role of visual representations in shaping public perceptions and policies regarding Venezuelan and transcontinental migration in Colombia, with a focus on two key border areas: Norte de Santander (the Colombia-Venezuela border) and the so-called “Darién Gap” (the Colombia-Panama border). By analyzing images and narratives published by El Espectador between 2019 and 2024, the research examines how bodies and places are visually represented to shape public perception, policy responses, and migration governance. The analysis reveals two dominant themes in the media’s portrayal of migration: (1) The production of migrant bodies – Migrants are frequently depicted as massified, vulnerable, and dehumanized subjects. Venezuelan women, in particular, are portrayed through a dual lens: as victims of sexual violence and as reproductive subjects, reinforcing narratives of crisis. The bodies of migrants in the Darién are often visually merged with the landscape, emphasizing suffering, exhaustion, and precarity. (2) The production of spaces – The border regions are framed as zones of disorder and danger. The trochas (irregular crossings) in Norte de Santander are depicted as lawless, reinforcing associations with crime, smuggling, and state absence. Meanwhile, the Darién Gap is visualized as a treacherous jungle where nature itself becomes an obstacle, justifying increased border control and humanitarian interventions. By applying multimodal discourse analysis, the study demonstrates how visual representations produce emotions— such as fear, pity, or urgency—that influence both public opinion and policy decisions. For this reason, we propose the concept of “visual economy of migration” to understand how visual representations shape the shared meaning of the migrant crisis in Colombia, while entangling readers’ fears and concerns with broader issues.