Telling the story of an image: From its creation to its impact on our vision of the world, how can we explain its power? The World in Images offers an interpretation that asks us to look beyond the first glance.
Next episode S05E82 airs 2026-09-14
Episodes Season The year 2026 · 0/85 The year 2025 · 0/125 The year 2024 · 0/122 Season 1 · 0/84 0/85 watched · 2026 S05E01 Palantir: the marketing of cyberwar 2026-01-05 11m
In a promotional video, the company Palantir presents its vision of future conflicts. Since Donald Trump's re-election, Silicon Valley has moved closer to power. Once adversaries, these powers are now converging to offer their shared vision of future warfare. Analysis. more S05E02 Chongqing: The World's Biggest City 2026-01-06 11m
With its unique, futuristic architecture, Chongqing epitomises the China of the future. As the youngest of Beijing’s megacities it also shows the astonishingly quick development of the nation and its geopolitical ambitions. more S05E03 Racism in AI: Beware of the gorillas! 2026-01-08 11m
A gorilla smoking shisha at the Family Allowance Office: this type of AI-generated content is flooding social media. A closer look at this outdated imagery that is reinventing itself and spreading racist stereotypes with impunity. more S05E04 Trump’s 'Fecal' Video: When PR Hits a New Low 2026-01-12 11m
In an AI-generated video, Donald Trump bombards millions of Americans who dared to protest against him with excrement. While this sequence is shocking in its vulgarity, it illustrates the president's new transgressive communication strategy. more S05E05 The Fake Real Mine Tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo 2026-01-13 11m
A mountainside riddled with holes on all sides collapses, burying numerous people. Following a mine collapse in Congo that killed around thirty illegal miners, these impressive but false images circulated in the media – and journalists worldwide fell for them. more S05E06 The legendary wave of Nazaré 2026-01-15 11m
Facing a crowd that also seems about to be engulfed, this surfer defies a wave over ten meters high. Captured in January 2025 in Nazaré, Portugal, this photo serves as a reminder of how images have been a springboard for surf culture. more S05E07 Russia: Factory of Fake News 2026-01-19 11m
Is Emmanuel Macron having a private luxury bunker built? At least that's what a video made in Russia "reveals," a video actually created with fake images and AI. Focus on this new stage of the Kremlin's masterfully waged information war. more S05E08 When forgotten peoples disrupt the COPs 2026-01-20 11m
An indigenous activist, shirtless and wearing a feather headdress, clashes with security personnel at the climate summit in Brazil: This photo, taken on the second day of COP30, illustrates the lack of consideration given to indigenous voices in the climate protection negotiations. more S05E09 Cryptocurrencies conquer the advertising market 2026-01-22 11m
Singing, dancing, mocking the economic crisis. All this is done in a curious commercial with which the US-based corporation Coinbase is promoting cryptocurrencies in the United Kingdom. Its message: Everything will be better with virtual money. more S05E10 When AI Rewrites the Holocaust 2026-01-26 11m
Created by artificial intelligence, striking images of concentration camps with emaciated prisoners have been flooding social media. How are false and wholly inaccurate images disrupting our understanding of the holocaust? more S05E11 Beneath the Uniform: Bodycams as a Security Measure? 2026-01-27 11m
In November 2025, Mediapart and Libération published body camera footage from police officers deployed during the demonstrations in Sainte-Soline on March 25, 2023. The videos show the bloody day from a completely new perspective. more S05E12 How NATO Demonstrates Strength 2026-01-29 11m
A warship explodes in the middle of the European Arctic Ocean. The spectacular footage, which rivals any blockbuster film, comes from a NATO naval exercise. The focus is on the alliance's communication strategy, demonstrating its defense capabilities and operational readiness. more S05E13 Maduro Captured 2026-02-02 11m
This photograph was the first proof that Nicolás Maduro had been kidnapped by US special forces and taken to the United States. Posted by Donald Trump on social media on 3 January, it shows the Venezuelan president handcuffed and dressed like a common criminal, an image that shocked the world and revived a long tradition of US imperialism in the Americas. more S05E14 Deepfakes: Viktor Orbán's Electoral Weapon 2026-02-03 11m
Shortly before the Hungarian parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's camp is employing a targeted disinformation strategy: A deepfake is intended to discredit Péter Magyar, the most prominent opposition figure. The incident demonstrates how digital manipulation undermines democratic processes – and raises the question of why such practices are still downplayed. more S05E15 Fire and Ice: Skiing on a molten Mount Etna? 2026-02-05 11m
In February 2025, during the eruption of Mount Etna, images of Italian skiers gliding along the edge of a lava flow went viral. A staged display of danger, typical of extreme sports, capable of inspiring as many daring feats as tragic accidents. more S05E16 Hong Kong: The Towering Inferno 2026-02-09 11m
While behind him, towers hundreds of meters high were ravaged by flames, this man's cry of distress resonated around the world. A historic photograph that became iconic thanks to a simple principle: bringing the disaster down to a human scale. more S05E17 Close-up photos of Trump's inner circle spark controversy 2026-02-10 11m
Vanity Fair magazine has ignited a controversy by publishing a series of extremely close-up portraits of Trump's inner circle. For example, needle marks were visible on White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's upper lip. The focus is on deconstructing power – through unretouched photos. more S05E18 Russian Drone: Returned to Sender 2026-02-12 11m
As the Russian ambassador left the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, he suddenly found himself face to face with a Russian drone. This "return" demonstrates once again how much the drone has become a symbol of the escalating tensions between Europe and Russia. more S05E19 The Great Modi Show 2026-02-16 11m
Narendra Modi graces the front page of the Indian daily newspaper "The Indian Express" to mark his 75th birthday. The government-funded stunt is part of a large-scale media campaign – and a good opportunity to examine the president's influence on the cultural sector. more S05E20 Film star Timothée Chalamet at the peak of PR 2026-02-17 11m
Timothée Chalamet made headlines by appearing atop the Las Vegas Sphere to announce the release of "Marty Supreme." A spectacular event, emblematic of new film promotion strategies, at a time when the industry is struggling to fill theaters. more S05E21 China: Becoming an Influencer to Save the Shop 2026-02-19 11m
Live on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, these two young women aren't influencers, but fishmongers. Like them, to cope with plummeting consumer spending, many Chinese retailers have had to completely reinvent how they promote their products. more S05E22 Ukraine: The Face of War 2026-02-23 11m
Wearing a traditional Ukrainian shirt and bearing the visible scars of severe burns, eleven-year-old Roman Oleksiv addressed the Members of the European Parliament in Brussels. His account of the horrors of the war in Ukraine was deeply moving—so much so that his interpreter was at times speechless. The scene was powerful, but it also raises questions: How much space should children have in the media's portrayal of conflicts? more S05E23 Donald Trump sells (not just) watches 2026-02-24 11m
Donald Trump has launched his own watch brand and promotes it on US television. The real estate mogul, who rose to become head of state, has never shied away from lucrative business ventures: He transferred his image as a successful entrepreneur to politics. more S05E24 A Showcase of Power: Egypt's New Museum 2026-02-26 11m
After more than 20 years of construction, the Grand Egyptian Museum was inaugurated with a spectacular show. Thanks to the enduring global fascination with the culture of ancient Egypt, the pharaonic-style ceremony offered the authoritarian President al-Sisi an opportunity to demonstrate his power. more S05E25 Who's afraid of an information label? 2026-03-02 11m
The Élysée Palace is now actively combating disinformation: After several media outlets accused the French president of trying to control the news, the Élysée Palace published a short fact-checking video on X. more S05E26 The Death of Renée Good: Images Lack Evidentiary Value 2026-03-03 11m
The images of the death of American Renée Good, who was shot by an ICE officer, quickly spread around the world. The fact that they failed to clarify the circumstances of the crime, instead fueling a wide range of interpretations, casts doubt on the evidentiary value of photographs. more S05E27 Poland: AI in the service of Eurosceptics 2026-03-05 11m
On TikTok, AI-generated young women are campaigning for Poland to leave the EU. The videos, which have already been viewed thousands of times, are even worrying the highest circles of the Polish government. The focus is on a new kind of disinformation campaign. more S05E28 Enlist! - Army with new recruitment strategies 2026-03-09 11m
"Can you do it?" – With this question, the French army aims to recruit young people aged 18 to 25 for military service. But because there is once again war on European soil, it is essential to generate interest in military service without concealing the risks of combat deployment. more S05E29 Sexy Priests – Followers Guaranteed? 2026-03-10 11m
Perfectly trimmed beard, toned body, and clerical collar: Some priests skillfully showcase their appearance online to gain reach. Behind these religious influencers lies a strategy carefully considered and controlled by the Catholic Church. more S05E30 AI brings Robin Williams back to life 2026-03-12 11m
In a new video, the actor, who died in 2014, is resurrected with a strikingly realistic voice and facial expressions. What seems like a glimpse into the future is also a play on an age-old human dream: overcoming death. But where are the ethical boundaries of digital immortality? more S05E31 ICE: The Codes of Brute Force 2026-03-16 11m
Shortly after Renée Good's death, this ICE photograph was seen as a symbol of the militarization of American power. As for the highly suggestive attire of its leader, Gregory Bovino, some recognized in it the uniforms of one of the darkest periods in history. more S05E32 It's so green! 2026-03-17 11m
A green river, three ships spraying color, and thousands of spectators. Every year on St. Patrick's Day, the Irish national holiday, the Chicago River turns green. These striking images raise questions about the environmental impact of such large-scale events. more S05E33 President Macron's Black Mirrored Sunglasses 2026-03-19 11m
An image from Davos has stuck in our minds: Emmanuel Macron wearing mirrored aviator sunglasses. On the front pages of the international press, the photo appeared as Europe's response to Donald Trump's imperialistic behavior. more S05E34 British Far-Right in "Reporter" Mode 2026-03-23 11m
Images speak louder than words: the dominant language of our world. Images are powerful and ubiquitous. We are all exposed daily to a flood of images, which we perceive more or less consciously. What we see can shock or move us. But do we always understand what we see at first glance? Sonia Devillers contextualizes images and explains their background. more S05E35 How China is trying to intimidate Taiwan 2026-03-24 11m
Images are language: the dominant language of our world. Images are powerful and ubiquitous. We are all exposed daily to a flood of images, which we perceive more or less consciously. What we see can shock or move us. But do we always understand what we see at first glance? Sonia Devillers contextualizes images and explains their background. more S05E36 Science Washing: A Clean Slate Through Science? 2026-03-26 11m
For its 360th anniversary, the construction giant Saint-Gobain released a series of videos featuring an unexpected guest: François Gemenne, a climate specialist and former member of the IPCC. This blend of disciplines raises questions about the sometimes ambiguous relationship between scientists and polluting industries. more S05E37 A photographer's quick thinking 2026-03-30 11m
A photographer, pinned to the ground by ICE agents, reacted with remarkable presence of mind, throwing his camera away before it could fall into the hands of his tormentors. A telling scene that became a symbol of eroding press freedom in the USA. more S05E38 Japan and Mount Fuji: A Visually Powerful Warning 2026-03-31 11m
In August 2025, the Tokyo metropolitan area released a prevention video that resembles a cross between a news report and a disaster film. Its aim is to prepare the population for a potential eruption of Mount Fuji. The clip, created using artificial intelligence, illustrates how present the threat of natural disasters is in the collective consciousness. more S05E39 Barbie with Autism – Marketing or Inclusion? 2026-04-02 11m
On TikTok, a girl unboxes her first "autistic" Barbie from Mattel. The doll is designed for social media and fits into the company's inclusive marketing strategy. But what does the product say about the current portrayal of this developmental disorder? more S05E40 Destination Moon: China is fine-tuning its launch 2026-04-07 11m
China is preparing for its first manned lunar mission in the coming years and is using this project for its public relations. A cheering crowd accompanies the arrival of three taikonauts, who will soon depart for the Chinese space station. Folkloric and communist symbolism is prominently featured in this ceremony. more S05E41 The Swag of Dictators 2026-04-08 11m
Despite the rose-tinted glasses and dolphins, Francisco Franco is clearly visible in the center of this image. As part of the TikTok trend "Pop Fascism," the Spanish tyrant, along with other European dictators, is haunting social media. more S05E42 Robot Dogs – A Biting Allegory 2026-04-09 11m
Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Pablo Picasso, or Andy Warhol – the American artist Beeple has placed these and other prominent figures on the bodies of strange robot dogs. A sensational installation that openly plays with the image of the powerful. more S05E43 United24: Ukraine's PR Agency 2026-04-13 11m
The ghosts of fallen young athletes touch the helmet of Vladyslav Heraskevych, the Ukrainian flag bearer at the Milan Winter Olympics, one after the other. Behind the video is United24 Media, a platform operated by the Ukrainian government that straddles the line between reporting and propaganda. more S05E44 Kate Middleton: A Trip to the Countryside 2026-04-14 11m
In January 2026, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, posted the last of four videos titled "Mother Nature" online. Beyond aristocratic pomp, she shares her thoughts on the power of nature. The videos were filmed in seemingly peaceful landscapes – a symbolic and strategic choice given the crises the royals are currently facing. more S05E45 Hyena in the Moonlight: The Secrets of Wildlife Photography 2026-04-16 11m
South African photographer Wim van den Heever was named "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" in 2025. His winning image shows a spotted hyena in the moonlight next to the ghostly ruins of an abandoned diamond mining town in Namibia. A rare image that shaped the development of wildlife photography. more S05E46 Have babies! China changes its position 2026-04-20 11m
This year's Chinese New Year celebrations focused on the theme of family – because after decades of a strict one-child policy, the country wants to change course and promote births. An analysis of the carefully designed Chinese propaganda campaign for births. more S05E47 Roblox: Video Games as a Form of Protest 2026-04-21 11m
An anti-ICE demonstration in a video game! On the gaming site Roblox, very young users are taking a stand against the US immigration authorities. Their protest makes it clear that online games can also be spaces for political expression. more S05E48 Sweden: Moose as TV Stars 2026-04-23 11m
A Swedish slow-TV program shows the moose migration calmly, uncut, and without commentary. The authentic and unusual format captivates audiences worldwide. more S05E49 The Subtle Codes of Nuclear Deterrence 2026-04-27 11m
In March 2026, from the Île Longue military base, Emmanuel Macron delivered a key speech on nuclear deterrence, in a carefully orchestrated event. A show of force where the symbolic power of the images rivaled that of the weapons. more S05E50 German Carnival: Jesters' heads must roll 2026-04-28 11m
A float in Düsseldorf's Rose Monday parade went down in history in 2026: It depicts Vladimir Putin impaling a carnival jester. The Kremlin sued Jacques Tilly, creator of the character and staunch advocate of the subversive power of carnival revelry. more S05E51 Iran: Trump and the War, Hollywood Style 2026-04-30 11m
During the offensive against Iran, the White House posted videos on its social media channels that combined film scenes, video games, and real airstrikes. This new communication strategy deliberately blurs the line between war and entertainment. more S05E52 "MAGA Symphony": Donald Trump as Orchestra Conductor 2026-05-04 11m
The painting depicts Donald Trump from behind, conducting an orchestra of his most loyal supporters. The painting, by a Trump sympathizer, is reminiscent of court painting, a genre generally considered a thing of the past. more S05E53 Why Iran is reenacting the war with Lego 2026-05-05 11m
Iran is responding to US propaganda with AI-generated video clips that reenact the war using Lego figures. The regime uses these clips to stage supposed triumphs or ridicule its enemies. This report focuses on this new secondary theater of war, which heralds a new era of Iranian propaganda. more S05E54 Relooted: Gamers Plunder Colonial Looted Art 2026-05-07 11m
In the Afrofuturistic heist video game Relooted, gamers must try to retrieve artworks from Western museums. This "liberation" of African artifacts offers a shift in perspective and highlights the extent of colonial looting. more S05E55 Episode 55 2026-05-11 11m
S05E56 Episode 56 2026-05-12 11m
S05E57 Episode 57 2026-05-13 11m
S05E58 When Filmmakers Turn to Advertising 2026-05-18 11m
In February 2026, a striking commercial stood out during the Super Bowl broadcast. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring actress Emma Stone, the ad employs cinematic conventions to promote a product - in this case, a website creation platform. more S05E59 Cheburashka: The Stuffed Toy Dividing Russian Society 2026-05-21 11m
A cult figure of Soviet culture, Cheburashka triumphed at the Russian box office in 2026. Adopted as a good-luck charm on the Ukrainian front, this childlike object now irritates the authorities - proof that animated cinema often carries profound ideological stakes. more S05E60 Has the Magic Vanished from Marine Zoos? 2026-05-19 11m
The Marineland marine theme park in Antibes closed on January 5, 2025. Images of the orcas and dolphins that remained there sparked a heated public debate, reflecting a shift in societal attitudes towards zoos and wildlife parks. more S05E61 A missile planted in the landscape 2026-05-26 11m
The photo has a surreal quality: A ballistic missile is lodged in a field in Syria. It hasn't exploded, and life at the impact site continues as normal. This is a striking metaphor for the intrusion of war into people's everyday lives. more S05E62 True Crime: Amateur Detectives on the Hunt for Clicks 2026-05-27 11m
The video, posted online by a YouTuber specializing in "urban exploration," takes viewers on a tour of the former private jet of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Content revolving around crime has been booming on social media for several years. But how far should entertainment go when it comes to crime? more S05E63 Nepal: A former rapper as prime minister 2026-05-28 11m
On March 26, 2026, to mark his election as Prime Minister of Nepal, singer Balendra Shah released a rap video – the culmination of a highly unconventional election campaign. This raises the question of the role of artists in politics. more S05E64 Sports mascots - a powerful communication tool 2026-06-01 11m
In September 2025, FIFA unveiled the mascots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an animated video. Inspired by the emblematic animals of the three host countries, these characters are a powerful marketing tool that reveals much about the relationship between humans and animals. more S05E65 The Nutella jar and the ad that fell from the sky 2026-06-02 11m
A jar of Nutella spotted in zero gravity during a live broadcast of the Artemis II mission: an unintentional product placement that became a marketing campaign. This art of opportunism invites us to dissect the strategies brands use to place their products everywhere. more S05E66 Israeli Propaganda in New York's Times Square 2026-06-04 11m
A huge billboard in New York's Times Square displays the portrait of Iran's new Supreme Leader – accompanied by a clear message of hate. The political instrumentalization of this public space by the Israeli government illustrates how blurred the line between advertising and propaganda has become. more S05E67 When FIFA designs a tactic for Gaza 2026-06-08 11m
Brand-new football pitches rising from the rubble of Gaza: this is the scene envisioned in the partnership video between FIFA and Donald Trump's Peace Council. Behind this backdrop, from which Gazans have been erased, other issues are apparent. more S05E68 Sumo wrestlers, heavyweights of diplomacy 2026-06-09 11m
Twenty years after their last trip, sumo wrestlers are back in the United Kingdom. Whether in the streets of London or in the Royal Albert Hall, specially transformed into a dojo, these prominent representatives of Japanese culture have attracted everyone's attention. more S05E69 Favela tourism: Can poverty become a vacation video? 2026-06-11 11m
Filmed by drone in a Rio favela, a tourist walks through a landscape littered with corrugated iron and concrete. These viral videos, designed for online platforms, reignite the debate about tourism in the favelas: between a spectacle of misery and a reflection of a grim social reality. more S05E70 Iran: Political Messages on Public Walls 2026-06-15 11m
In Tehran, a giant billboard portrays two celebrated figures from Iran’s military history. Carefully designed and tightly controlled, the image reflects a long-standing tradition of using walls and public spaces as tools of political communication. Across centuries and political systems, governments have used highly visible displays to shape public narratives and project power. more S05E71 India: Tamil Cinema as a Pathway to Politics 2026-06-17 11m
In southern India, a major Tamil film star surprised many by winning regional elections with a newly founded political party. His rise from popular screen icon to political leader highlights a long-standing phenomenon in the state of Tamil Nadu, where the influence of Tamil cinema has often helped launch successful political careers. more S05E72 Friend: The AI Necklace Facing Public Backlash 2026-06-18 11m
A controversial advertising campaign for "Friend," an AI-powered necklace designed for conversation, sparked a wave of negative reactions. In several places, posters were vandalized, reflecting broader concerns about the growing role of technology in everyday life and reviving debates linked to modern forms of Luddism - opposition to technological change. more S05E73 Trump’s Vision for a Triumph Arch 2026-06-22 11m
Ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, Donald Trump has proposed building a monumental triumph arch in Washington, D.C. The project reflects the revival of an architectural symbol historically associated with power, prestige, and national identity - a highly visible structure that is at once spectacular, political, and deeply ideological. more S05E74 Israel-Palestine: Images at the heart of a war of narratives 2026-06-23 11m
On April 10 2026, Italian weekly L'Espresso published a striking photo of an Israeli settler in military clothing grimacing opposite a Palestinian woman with downcast gaze. The image sparked accusations of stereotyping and antisemitism and triggered diplomatic reactions, becoming part of the broader Israel-Palestine war of narratives. more S05E75 The Battle for the Rainbow Flag 2026-06-25 11m
Removed by the Trump administration from the Stonewall National Monument in New York, the rainbow flag was raised again on February 12, 2026 in Manhattan, birthplace of the Pride movement. A symbol of resistance, it has been central to a global visual conflict since 1978. more S05E76 AI: False Witnesses of the True Past 2026-08-31 11m
S05E77 In the Netherlands, the police display the suspects' names. 2026-09-01 11m
S05E78 Why is Putin posing with children? 2026-09-03 11m
S05E79 The war seen through Hezbollah drone footage 2026-09-07 11m
Since March 2026, Hezbollah has released disturbing footage of suicide-drone attacks on Israeli targets in southern Lebanon, seeking to challenge Israel’s narrative and intimidate the military and public. more S05E80 Should we fear China’s giant spacecraft? 2026-09-08 11m
A Chinese TV program on aerospace innovation showed sci-fi-like images of space carriers and alien spacecraft, blurring fiction and reality. A look at how futuristic imagery fuels the imagination of space conquest. more
S05E81 Artificial waves in the summer heat 2026-09-10 11m
In June 2026, Louis Vuitton opened its fashion show with a giant artificial surf wave. Amid record summer heat, the spectacle sparked criticism, highlighting concerns over the fashion industry’s response to the climate crisis. more S05E82 Behind the niqabs, far-right propaganda 2026-09-14 11m
At a nationalist rally in London, three activists from the French identitarian group Némésis appeared on stage in niqabs before removing them to cheers. The provocative stunt illustrates the far right’s evolving visual strategies. more S05E83 How Elon Musk puts SpaceX into orbit airs 2026-09-15 11m
As SpaceX prepares for a potential IPO, its futuristic tech advertising targets investors while reinforcing the myth of Musk as a near-messianic entrepreneur. more S05E84 Trolling the manosphere to sell yogurt airs 2026-09-17 11m
French brand Sojasun taps into the manosphere’s hostility toward soy in a provocative ad for its desserts - a savvy marketing stunt reflecting the wider culture war over food. more
S05E85 Episode 85 airs 2026-09-21 11m
