Crise du reportage de guerre (The Crisis of War Photography)

Over the past ten years war photography has gradually been
disappearing. Modern day war photography was born in Spain in
1936 with the photography of Robert Capa. This was to become the
leitmotive of war photography similar to that of
photojournalism. Today, 50 years after the Spanish Civil war and
20 years after Vietnam, war photography is in such a state of
transformation that the idea in favour of providing information
at any cost is becoming obsolete. The taking of war photography
and its use in the press has been considerably shaken. Three
phenomena have become apparent: 1. The closing dwon of
frontiers; 2. The take over of television; 3. The new formulae
of newspaper editors (in 1986 Rupert Murdoch the new director of
the Sunday Times Magazine declared that he didn't want to see
any more misery or war in his magazine, simply more articles on
leisure). The growing difficulties encountered by the newspaper
reporter in carrying out his profession explain the
over-abundance of horror, blood and death-images. The
photographer no longer has time nor means to explain or portray
a conflict if only in terms of the more symbolic and attractive
aspects that is, sensationalism, danger and death. This turning
point dates from the Vietnam war where all was revealed without
the heavy hand of censorship.(Magazines Summary)


Citaten:
Whelan, R.: Robert Capa (1985)
Griffith, Ph. J.: Viêt-nam Inc. (1971)
Lewinski, J.: Camera at War (1980)
Messinger, S.: Robert Capa photographe (1985)