I will warn that though this video is definitely something of premise, it is not for the faintest of hearts. The video is from TED.com. In the short clip Jonathan Klein shows images, some motivating, some devastating, all moving. While I was looking for something to write about this week, I stumbled upon this video. Considering the emotional reaction it elicited within myself, I definitely think it ties into the current chapter that we are learning. A thing that I noticed in this video is that once the it was over, I had NO idea what Jonathan Klein had said. I'm sure it was inspiring and touching, however... in this case, the pictures were (not to sound cliche) worth a thousand words.
The first image I wanted to touch on was the one the had the greatest effect on me. The picture of what would appear to be a pile of rubble with a man starring blankly at the pile, while in the background there are many collapsed buildings. Under closer examination, you realize that the pile of rubble is, in fact, not a pile of rubble. Instead it is a pile of dead bodies. In that single moment of realization my heart dropped. What an awful moment to be apart of. Then you imagine all of the things that man must be going through. Why is he starring at the pile? Is he looking for someone? Does he feel fear? He must be sad. Is he angry? All of these questions are among the many that this picture sparked in my mind. Along with my own feelings of sadness, and anger and fear.
The next that I wanted to talk about was the one of the murdered gorillas. The video was going in and out of pictures... moving, inspiring, joyful then I faintly heard Jonathan say "the images from the murder of the gorillas sparked intense anger." Right after the video showed images of dead gorillas. Followed by people carrying dead gorillas across the jungle. Clearly the original picture sparked anger in people. In order to make a change in their feelings they banned together in order to make it known that it was not acceptable.
Another picture was shown, this one seemed rather detrimental to my current state of happiness. The picture was of an Iraq war veteran. Half of his head was smashed in and he was sitting on the edge of the bed being embraced by what looked like his mother. That was an awful image for me to see. I've had many friends go to Iraq, Afghanistan, ect.. Though, we had one very close brush with death, I have been fortunate to see them all return, most of them on multiple occasions. There has always been that thought of it in the back of my mind, the potential for someone to get hurt like that seems so surreal. All I can really say about this picture is that it elicited an extreme amount of sadness.
The point of this video was to show that the world can be changed by just a single image. Though, I felt that was for a long time. I feel as though this video definitely proved its point. I'm really not an overly emotional person. i normally stay rather calm and reserved. However, this got to me. How does it make you feel? What images hit you?
http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_klein_photos_that_changed_the_world.html
Like the video said, the images are just images and we give them the power. The reason they can become so powerful is because they do evoke so many emotions as you described. That is the reason why some of these images have been instrumental in changing the world. A lot of these pictures evoke anger(9/11), some sadness (Haiti), or both (Holocaust), but these emotions are necessary for things to change. Some of these pictures exhibit facial expressions of sadness or other emotions, which may contribute to their emotional significance for the viewer (sort of like emotional contagion). It is likely that the emotion that was elicited by these pictures and led to actions that changed the world is anger. These emotions are signs that something is wrong or isn't as it should be. Anger has to be the most productive of these, but also carries a destructive potential. Anger increases energy, strength, and sense of control-all of which are essential in order to take up a 'cause' to right a perceived wrong. But anger can also be destructive, as we saw in some cases in Iraq (Abu Ghraib)and as we have seen it lead to war after war throughout history. Whether any war is 'right' or 'wrong' depends on your own perspective, but every war undoubtedly leads to destruction and death (except the Cold War, maybe- it did destroy our relationship with Russia).
First I'd just like to mention that I too experienced a lot of the same emotions that you had. The one picture that I would like to point out is the one of the two people on bikes riding into a huge dark cloud of smoke. Although I'm not exactly sure what part of the world this was, it still "got to me" as you can say. I think the reason being is it almost seems as if the two on bikes are just ready to confront this huge dark cloud of smoke, despite it being extremely scary and dangerous looking. Now, if you could see their faces then it might tell a different story, so yes even though very cliché, pictures are worth a thousand words.
I'd also like to mention that while reading and looking at this video I kept thinking about the Floods of 2008 here in the midwest. I still think of images from seeing towns covered in water, and feeling hopeless, sad and angry as I watched them on tv. My hometown is Cedar Rapids, and just the other day we were driving through where the floods had hit, and even now still seeing the houses that are still there with writing over them saying "UNSAFE" still raises my emotions all over again.
Another thing I'd like to touch on is something in which Sam mentioned in the comment above me. Sam talked about emotions being a sign of something that is wrong, or what shouldn't be. In our book it talks about how emotions "establish our position...and equip us with specific, efficient responses that are tailored to problems of physical and social survival" I think this ties in with what Sam was saying. Because we experience all of these emotions from the pictures we so vividly want to avoid these situations in order to ensure our survival. We get angry and sad when seeing pictures about the Holocaust because it was a horrible historical event that should not be repeated, and I know personally I would not like to see myself or anyone I care about going through what that picture may represent. Either way, I feel that these pictures elicit emotions because those emotions is a motivator to change what we see.
How would these images inspire me? Well they do a good job at making me feel like I have missed a lot in the news my whole life, while I have seen some of them before, some are very new to me. I think because where and how I grew up some of these images are nothing new, but I have to say that I only connected with a couple of these images and for only peronsal reasons, the others, I understand their purpose of showing what is happening around the world or time period, help me in making sure that if I can help will do so.
I felt moved by like I said many of these images, but for me the one I would have to say touched me was the little child skin and bones crawling behind someone, that sent waves of uneasiness throughout my body. For me seeing this image makes me want to jump up and help others that may need help food wise, because that is one of the basic needs to survive and that child's life is hanging on the brim of non-existance. As mentioned before me by Sam and again by Amanda that we give these photos power, but what if the power you give them reminds you of a certain emotion or a patictular time in your life.
I guess that in seeing this photo of a young, deathly skinny child begging, strikes emotions of my childhood past. Not that I was ever that thin, but pretty close, due to the lack of resources that a single parent had during a time period of my life, but the feeling of not having food, begging and dreaming about something as small as one cracker. It is in seeing this picture that I feel like I have to start hiding food all over again, because I never know if I am gonna be able to eat later. And frankly Amanda and Reeve states it all for me, I am equiped with this notion of suriving from the past and seeing these images creates feelings of before. And before I know it I am carrying bags and bags of food from Wal-Mart home with me.
Internally we are motivated to survive, by fear, by anger, by happiness and many other emotions. Pictures capture just a moment in time. If they are perfectly shot and colorized they intentionally relate the photographers intentions of creating a certain emotion, whether it be fear, happiness, anger or grief. That is what sells, but for many, like all of us so far, they have touched us, they have made us want to change the siutaion, but have they made us do something about it. In many cases no, they just make us uneasy.