Regarding the Pain of Others is a critique of the popular
conception of photography as a more true representation of reality than other
forms of art. Even in the cases of war photography, which she examines most in
depth, what is captured in the image is taken by a photographer who has a
specific intention, whether conscious or not. Also, what is contained in the
photograph still requires interpretation when it meets the viewer’s eyes,
regardless of how “objective” the image attempts to be. Sontag analyzes the
psychology of the human mind, considering specifically how we are now able to
experience the suffering of others so far removed from our daily experience. This
creates a sort of fantasy about the very real lives of others and allows us to
imagine possible realities far removed from anything we witness in our immediate
experience. This diverse mental space is then manipulated by media outlets
resulting in a greater degree of control by the limited sources of information.
We see the worst of what humanity is capable of, but understand that it is far
out of our own abilities to influence. Thus, within the modern mind, knowledge and impotence have come into an uncomfortable union.
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