Compassion

Despite the instant availability of billions of images of human suffering and death in the continuous and connective digital glare of social media, the catastrophes of contemporary wars, such as in Syria and Yemen, unfold relentlessly. 

Yet, there is a persisting belief in the power of media images to transform the events they depict. There are repeated expressions of surprise by some in the west, when the dissemination of images of suffering, particularly in mainstream news media, from wars do not translate into a de-escalation of conflict.

In my work, I consider today’s loosening of the often presumed relationship between media representation, knowledge and response under the conditions of ‘digital war’. This is the digital disruption of the relationship between warfare and society in which all sides participate in the uploading and sharing of images and video of conflict

Is it that the capacity of images of human injury and death in other places- the so called ‘distant suffering’- and the expectation that they would stir practical intervention in wars is, and has been, exaggerated?  Even if we are moved or shocked, upon being confronted by such images, does this translate into some form of action- individual or otherwise? 

At the same time, we must consider whether our capacity for being moved is ultimately diminished by our routine exposure to images of human suffering, the old equation being that familiarity induces ‘compassion fatigue’. But was there ever a critical mass of those who really cared and really acted in the first place?

Ultimately, the saturation of images of human suffering and death in contemporary warfare has not ushered in a new era of compassion fatigue. The mass connectivity of likes and sharing on social media affords the contemporary digital version of virality and contagion (something is being done), whereas this seems to stand in for action in the real world (something has been done) so perversely further action does not appear to be needed.