Stručni rad
Press Photographer- Spectator or Participant?
Aco Dimitorvić
Sažetak
The American photographer Ron Haviv published the book “The Balkans,
blood and honey”, with photographs taken during ten years of wars that
followed the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Haviv said in an interview that all
the wars look the same to him, and that he did not keep any relation to people
he photographed. We use this example to discuss the position of the neutral
observer, something that is required in the journalistic profession. Can the
professional detach himself from the people whose sufferings he records? To
which extent can he suppress his personal feelings and convictions? Since the
Balkans are the cradle of European civilization, we use ethical thoughts of
three philosophers from Athens – Plato, Thrasymachus and Aristotle, and try
to find statements that can be used to explain the contemporary situation in
which Haviv works as a reporter. Neutrality is simply a survival strategy,
necessary in a situation where the journalist can become a target. The only
way the reporter can make a difference is to take good pictures and publish
them. After that, photographs take on a life of their own, where quality decides
whether they will influence other people. The ideal of human integrity and
ethical behavior cannot be fulfilled in every situation. The rules of the
profession demand that the reporter should hide his emotions and convictions,
in order to survive.
Ključne riječi
professional ethics; press photographers; war photography; Haviv; Ron
Hrčak ID:
23004
URI
Datum izdavanja:
28.11.2004.
Posjeta: 2.166 *