Nerve Endings Firing Away

See the two pictures featured above? Post-disaster (SE Asian tsunami), they show the anguish of the survivors at the loss of their loved ones [source via Jyotsna, title of this post from the linked article]. Notice how they convey extreme grief without showing the mangled bodies of the victims and also respect the dead in the process. Both are prize-winning pictures that have caused a lasting impact in many a apathetic heart. Of course, the picture of a naked girl running after a napalm attack [Vietnam war] was revolutionary but to cite that image as justification without understanding the context in different era and world politics is at best, asinine.

While I don’t question the motives of those who share gruesome pictures of victims [words work fine for me; my imagination is more morbid], I prefer the creative, intentional or otherwise, use of imagery to convey a message. This often needs a creative and empathetic eye on part of the photographer. In the age of cut-throat competition of media ratings and breaking news, some reporters might be tempted to ‘shock’ their readers and capture attention. They may do so either to direct attention to the tragedy or to gain cheap publicity; one may never guess. But I hope they understand that if they do it often, they risk desensitizing their readers to even such gruesome imagery let alone spur them into action.

I am not sure how many of you remember Indira Gandhi’s funeral. The photo showing a grieving yet stoic Rajiv consoling Priyanka who was crying on his shoulder won him a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections [the original 'sympathy wave']. The picture evoked genuine sympathy among crores of people who were watching and felt his pain. On the other hand, ironically the picture of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination with him lying face down in a bloody mess and the crack of his ass showing was certainly not the last image you wanted to remember him by. The first picture, in my opinion was a more evocative one that spurred many into action [voting him to power] while the second one was cheap voyeurism. But of course, the impact of the first picture was in the political and emotional climate of that time.
Every profession has a written (and unwritten) code of ethics that all members are expected to adhere to. I use the word ‘expected’ loosely because some profession tend to enforce them more strictly than others. However, it is foremost a personal choice on the part of the member to do so and anything you say or do says a lot about you. I cannot force or even request you to change your perspective but I’ll definitely keep it in mind when I read or see your work in the future. The sensible or rational ones amongst us acknowledge their misjudgements and take remedial measures.

Context of this post: posts by Shivam, Confused, Gaurav, and Vulturo. Don’t make me write a ‘it is not personal…no, wait! it is” post. Take it for what it is worth and move on.

PS. Please direct me to the ‘Rajiv at Indira Gandhi funeral’ picture if you find it on the web.

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