Can Photographs Change the World?

 A. 

Photo By Sarah Key, MS, CCC-SLP

    This photograph shows active brain surgery. This photo has affected me personally because it shows me just how amazing medicine can be. In this picture, the patient is awake for surgery. That alone is impressive. The medical field has come such a long way and will continue to grow. It gives me a sense of hope for my future. The human body is so intricate and complex. It is interesting to know that things like this can be performed safely. 

B.

Photo by Timothy O'Sullivan 

       This photograph shows the aftermath of the Gettysburg battlefield in 1863. This is a photograph that changed the world. Back then, photos of war were not common. People didn't fully understand what the battlefield was like and especially did not know what it looked like. This photo showed what it was like. It educated the world, showing the severity of what these events may lead to. 

C. 

    Photographs and photojournalism can change the world. An important way photos can change the world is through coverage of war. As briefly mentioned before, war photos can educate the world on what is happening on the battlefield. As mentioned by Rall, "pictures [of dead or dying American troops] have rarely been seen in recent years from Iraq and Afghanistan". By photographing and publishing these images, citizens can have some coverage on the topic.  

    While still on the topic of war, due to government control over media platforms, there is less coverage than there could be on certain topics. For example, "government censorship of images relating to soldiers who have been hurt and killed fighting in wars". The government controls how much coverage and how many photos can be published. So as much as we want photos to change the world, it is impossible to get them across to people sometimes. 

    While photography has a great effect, the platform on which they were published also matters.  For example, social media is a large platform that gives people the ability to both post and comment. However, this is not always a good thing. For instance, "some media companies are once again seeking refuge in larger conglomerates." People are using social media to provoke and harm other platforms and corporations. The change in big organizations due to publication can affect the world. Especially if it is a world organization. 

     Good images are "Images that provoke us to step up and do something". Images that can affect people in this manner automatically can change the world. These images give people the inspiration they need to fight for what they believe in. 

   

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