Power and Powerlessness
This photograph was taken in March 1993 by a South African photojournalist, Kevin Carter. While Carter was on an assignment to Sudan, he took a photo of a vulture and a little girl. The little girl is a Sudanese famine victim; she was stopping for rest on her way to the food center. The vulture, which was stalking the little girl, waited for her to die so it can eat her. It seems that the vulture has more power to the little girl, as it’s the predator in this situation. However, Carter had more power over the vulture as a grown man. After Carter took the photo, he was able to chase the vulture away. And the photo was later published in The New York Times and aroused wide public attention. The public wanted to know what happened to the little girl, and many questioned why Carter didn’t help her to the food center. While many people think that Carter was cruel and only used the girl to take his photo, Carter was told not to touch famine victims for fear of spreading disease. Carter later expressed regret that he had not done more in his power to help the girl, although he knew that there was not much for him to do as twenty people per hour could have been dying at the food center. In 1994, Carter committed suicide due to the depression he had suffered from seeing people dying. Sometimes we thought we have the power to change but we are so powerless in certain situations.
– Angelina Huang
The Use of Power
This picture shows the concept of power play in which the eagle/vulture represents America (being that the eagle is America’s national bird) and the child represents those suffering in all parts of the world. The eagle is looking at the young girl, probably waiting for her to die so it can benefit from the girl by eating her corpse. This depicts how the nations with high influence in the world, look helplessly on those “under” them or those with less power and capability. People might argue that there was nothing else the photographer could’ve done since he was not allowed to touch the children. Likewise, people might argue that America does give back by sending money to the “Feed the Children Foundation”, but maybe instead of just sending money that they’re not really sure helps these children, we can think of an idea that is sure to make an effective change. Instead of just taking the picture, the photographer should’ve helped the child get to where she was going.
– Damilola Babarinde
Distribution of Power
Apart from the symbolism of the eagle/vulture is the irony of both subjects in the photograph. The vulture is around the same size as the small child, and at first glance, both are of a similar color. However, based on the vulture’s stance and control over the situation, the bird holds a larger amount of power over the helpless child. This setup is applicable to society today. We all are composed of the same things. In each of us, we have blood, organs, and skeletons. Yet, there are people who sit on a higher chair than others. I compare this to people and the various financial and social situations that people are placed in all over the world. Like the vulture stalking and waiting for the child to die, people rejoice at the failure of others. A bigger company benefits from the downfall of a local business. A police officer is successful at subduing protesters. Soldiers are triumphant at war, even if it means involving civilians (something we’ve seen in Hiroshima and Nagasaki). I understand the main message of the image is the basic similarities that all of us share, but the lack of homogeneity in power, whether it is socially, financially, or academically.
– Lian Ira Payoen
Responding to what Angeline was talking about, I certainly agree that the photographer simultaneously had power, but also lacked power, in that he can scare away the eagle/vulture, so it wouldn’t attack the poor girl, but at the same time he is powerless because he can’t touch the girl. However, I believe that the photographer could have at least handed the girl some food or water from the food center, so she doesn’t starve. My heart aches for the photographer in the end because the suffering he was seeing led him to kill himself. It is a tragedy for such a sympathetic person to not be with us anymore, for if he hadn’t committed suicide, he might have helped bring more attention to countries filled with famine, and thus possibly bring a smile to his face.
Response to Angelina, Damilola and Lian’s Group
In this photo it’s hard not to notice the power that this animal has over this child. It can sense that the child was weak and saw an opportunity to feed itself. I do agree with Damilola when she says that “This depicts how the nations with high influence in the world, look helplessly on those “under” them or those with less power and capability.” I would go so far to say that such as situation is seen as an opportunity to acquire more. This is the American way. The United States has done the same since the founding of our country and continues to operate this way through the way we handle business and politics. All of this groups entries brought up some very good points, however Damilola’s resonated with me the most.
Karia Hill
I like the different application of the power play demonstrated in the picture to current modern day scenarios. The picture itself is quite tragic to look at and really speaks volumes of the natural dominance that exists in nature between creatures of differing strengths. Lian makes a great point about the distribution of power within society versus the commonalities we all share. It’s a similar argument that democrats make today about equality at birth versus equal opportunities. This picture shows the problem that arises out of such contexts which is the opportunity for domination by those in higher standings.
In response to the entire group, I really liked how all of your applied different types of power plays. I agree with Lian’s view on the symbolism behind the vulture and the child. When analyzing this image, I also thought of it as people in power taken advantage of those in need, or those with less power than them rather than helping them. However, I also think that Angelina’s last sentence is very important. She stated: “Sometimes we thought we have the power to change but we are so powerless in certain situations.” I agree with this a lot because I’ve experienced it first hand, and I believe most people have also experienced this. Wanting to make a change but not having enough power to do so is very conflicting. Overall, you guys did a great job!
Yes, this very famous photograph is still one of the most disturbing images I’ve ever seen. You all point out, rightly, the back story of the photograph (it helps everyone to understand why it was so famous) and you all make excellent comments. You mention a few wonderful details, such as the vulture stalking the girl, but there are a great many more details you could comment on. Remember, a photograph is a visual argument, and each detail counts!