photo: Alinne Rezende

The civic part of photography

It is not new, that even in a generic way; we have always had a vague desire to save the world. Perhaps the very collective subconscious thinks that this is too much for us, mere mortals, so we found another one to take care of this responsibility — photography. But do you really believe that photography can change the world?

Naively, once I believed that an image could save the world. Nowadays I can unquestionably say that no, an image is not able to change the world. It is only capable of maybe become an icon. As recently, the photo of the small Syrian boy drowned in a Turkish beach along with others who sought refuge and hope in Europe. Or as in 1972, the image of the girl burned by napalm or as the photo of 1994 where the vulture lurking an undernourished child. The photograph’s intention isn’t and never was to “change the world”, only to change the men's lives.

When an image reaches the maximum of its potential, in other words, when it becomes a symbolic icon in the visual repertoire of all, it puts a human face on issues which from afar can appear abstract or ideological, it puts a humanity aspect on what happens at a popular level with ordinary citizens who are away from holophotes of power. It stimulates the public opinion and gives impetus to public debate and forces the parties involved, directly or indirectly, to take responsibility and take appropriate actions.

Without getting into the discussion and the principles of ethics, of what should and what shouldn’t be published, many of these images clash, but not always they are explicit, certainly they are the scars that would never let us forget how and where we failed, of how many times we chose not to engage in or, how many times we closed our eyes and we covered our ears to a distress call. The reality is harsh sometimes, and the society’s problems won’t be solved until these problems are identified and seen.

In his speech at TED, James Nachtwey, a famous photojournalist, said:

“Photographers go to the extreme edges of human experience to show people what’s going on. Sometimes they put their lives on the line, because they believe your opinions and your influence matter. They aim their pictures at your best instincts, generosity, a sense of right and wrong, the ability and the willingness to identify with others, the refusal to accept the unacceptable.”

At last, the photography had never changed the world, not ever. But every time we confront a powerful image, we only have two choices: turn our face way or look into the image. It will leave its impact, it will push us to question our core beliefs and our responsibilities and it is completely up to us the action.

Article originally posted in Portuguese on http://revistaold.com/blog/o-papel-civico-da-fotografia-perante-a-sociedade/