A disturbing photograph has power. It draws the viewer in with its beauty and composition, and then repels you when you take in the graphic content.
Watching Charlie Rose I happened upon his interview with the editor of Time Magazine in regards to the very shocking new front cover photo of Aisha, an 18-year-old girl who under the Taliban regime, had both ears and nose cut off by her husband and brother in law.
This photograph holds so much weight in terms of how it portrays the political and social unrest in Afghanistan, and the inequality of the sexes. However what interests me is how the photographer has made the viewer feel about the subject matter.
What I find fascinating is that I first noticed how beautiful she was, how the composition and the colours of her clothing shape and accentuate her face. My eye was then drawn to her disfigurement, which is indeed shocking. It made me question why someone would want to destroy something so beautiful.
Powerful images such as these are what sell magazines, newspapers and art in galleries. What is it about images that shock and make us uneasy, that draws us in closer, and compels us to purchase them? I believe it is the storytelling behind them that intrigues us, and urges us to find out more about the artist and the subject matter. Like it or not, it starts the conversation.
Video of the photographer speaking about the photographs of Aisha (photo not available)
No comments:
Post a Comment