Reflection on the in-class film

In order to create a journal entry in relation to the film we viewed in class, I am going to simply respond to the questions posed in class.

How do we see war? How is war presented to us?

The photographer in the film depicted war through his photographs. He did not capture war from the perspective of the soldiers, but as a representation of the people and the aftermath of war. War is obviously not presented in a favorable light as the pain, suffering, and anguish that war bestows on the people of the nations from which it is fought is clearly depicted through these photographs.


Does the photographer document war? Give a moral account of war? Judge war as good/bad?

The photographer does not document war as it is happening, but the affects of the war on the surrounding people. He obviously gives an account of the in-human and immoralities of war and makes a clear judgment call that this is a bad thing. He clearly states that his photographs are the answer to war, a form of peaceful negotiation. He feels that he is doing the right thing in attempting to bring to light these horrible affects of war so that others may join him in taking action against wars.


How do we make sense and/or find meaning out of the consequences and aftermath of war?

The photographer seems to still maintain a sense of optimism in the fight against wars. He feels that good will eventually win out over the evils of war. He believes that war won't keep going on and on. His photographs attempt to function as a form of communication to the rest of the world. He wants to open the eyes of everyone around him so that we can see what is actually going on. The photographer feels that if people know about these things, then they will have a responsibility to do something about it. This sounds like some form of duty to me. I wrote in my notes that the photographer is appealing to some sort of Prima Facie duty that we have when seeing these photos. That we will be compelled and should to do something about it.