Photographic conscience
After Richard M. Nixon saw Nick Ut’s wrenching image of the 9-year-old Kim Phuc, he said,
“I’m wondering if that was fixed.”*
Trump, who frequently invokes claims of fake news and lies even though there are easily available transcripts, photographs and video to refute his claims, isn’t suggesting that forthcoming images of suffering migrants will be manufactured or fake though he will likely make that claim, too. At the moment, Trump is doing something more ominous. He is perverting the logic of the photographic conscience. No longer do we see an image of terrible suffering and say, never again. Rather, we imagine the dreadful details of terrible suffering, and then steel ourselves to look away.
“I’m wondering if that was fixed.”*
Trump, who frequently invokes claims of fake news and lies even though there are easily available transcripts, photographs and video to refute his claims, isn’t suggesting that forthcoming images of suffering migrants will be manufactured or fake though he will likely make that claim, too. At the moment, Trump is doing something more ominous. He is perverting the logic of the photographic conscience. No longer do we see an image of terrible suffering and say, never again. Rather, we imagine the dreadful details of terrible suffering, and then steel ourselves to look away.
Diverting Focus: Trump is already numbing us to the horrific images his plans would create, by Philip Kennicott. Washington Post, July 4, 2024. (Diverting Focus is the headline in the print edition.)
* When Nixon said he wondered if Nik Ut's photo was "fixed" he was wondering if it was fake. (Nixon was famously paranoid as well as being a criminal and an unbelievable a**hole.)
* When Nixon said he wondered if Nik Ut's photo was "fixed" he was wondering if it was fake. (Nixon was famously paranoid as well as being a criminal and an unbelievable a**hole.)