We have been given the opportunity to question and respond to Pete, and so follows my thoughts on the lecture, in particular to the concluding points from 20:30.
Hi Pete,
My first question is: why do you think the prison system is likely improved since the earthquake? Because of the 'publicity' it has received, and hence the raised awareness of its major flaws?
My suggested explanation as to why the Pakistani floods and other natural disasters have not been covered as intently, is simply because of the drama of it. The continuous, and continuously reported, sufferings of international people, has reached such a regular frequency, that it is more likely to be greeted with boredom and disinterest than shock or sympathy by a western audience. Unless of course it has some original (and potentially cinematic quality) drama. For example (and here's your Hollywood tagline): an earthquake leads to a prison break of ruthless criminal overlords, unleashed on a peaceful and vulnerable community which had previously been rescued from their corruptive grasp! We all like a bit of drama.
I agree with your point that the caption is as important as the photograph it accompanies. But surely the problems of 'cross-reporting' and of no firm narrative/consensus with the Haiti case study, highlight the problem of deciding when a caption is 'correct'.
Thank you for an excellent and informative lecture, I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts.
*Update: Pete has been very generous with his time and not only responded in detail to my questions and thoughts, but also recorded his response which you can find below. Many thanks Pete, I look forward to communicating with you again in the future.
On Hollywood. You're unfortunately right. News cycles last very short periods of time. The more dramatic the scenes, the quicker the story, the more immediate the ratings. I don't want to be too cynical as the problem isn't usually the original reporting but its absence only a short time after.
ReplyDeleteThe Pakistan Floods took six weeks to move through the country. That destruction was a slow as the rising, lumbering waters.
It is worth noting that the Western world is never solely responsible for saving people's in disaster areas. In fact, the notion of us as saviours is quite unsavory. Many Pakistanis would have preferred a better response form their own govt too. I interviewed Asim Rafiqui, a photographer I respect very much. He gives a very good reflection on the responses and responsibilities of different institutions:
http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2010/09/asim-rafiqui/all/1
As for your question, "Why do you think the prison system is likely improved since the earthquake?"
It has to be, with $141 million going into a new judicial system - part of which is the prisons - conditions surely must improve, mustn't they? Foreign govts handing out aid don't want to build the same filthy concrete boxes. I hope.