(Untitled)

[whackywookie]

So I began reading End of Poverty (refer to Lisa's LJ for more info) and it got me wondering; when western photographers/scholars go to countries knee-deep in poverty and disease to investigate the horrific extent of the inhumanity in those areas, do they actually bring some aid with them? When they say "This family has been without food for 3 days

Comments

[sunnxrain]

i've never understood how journalists photographers could go to those countries and come back apathetically, with their many rolls of film. also, those that interview the supporters of the taliban and report all the threats directed to America with neutrality. also those that take pictures of such dying in battle...when others are running off the field, they're making sure they get their money's worth of shots.

[trooper715]

I remember hearing about one photographer who took pictures of starving children in Africa, then went home and killed himself because it was just too depressing to watch and do nothing.

I think his pictures won some awards, but I don't recall his name. I remember there was one with a vulture staring at a starving kid.

[against_demons]

His name was Kevin Carter. I had to look it up, but I was going to mention the same incident. You can see the vulture picture here.

It really is one thing to be calling attention to these things, and another to directly do something about it. I've heard stories about reporters in war zones, impoverished areas, or other places of suffering who've quit their jobs to stay and help the people there. But in most cases I think it's easier to help someone (or think you're helping someone) by bringing information to the masses, versus bringing individuals food on a much smaller scale. Both are important, of course.

(Yay, Min, you're reading The End of Poverty. :) )

[whackywookie]

Right, I'm not saying all photojournalists should bring aid whereever they go, I'm just wondering how they can humanly bear what they see without interfering. And I guess in many cases, they can't.

Yep, =D, I only read 20 pages at Border's though, I'm going to pick up a copy at the library asap

[platonic_x]

It's like in the news..when they film or photograph victims of a disaster such as Katrina..I wonder whether they got help for those people. I always thought that after taking a photo or interviewing them, the next thing they do is get them help.

[jarsoffart]

ive wondered the same.