brokensandals 's review for:

Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag

4.0

---

So far as we feel sympathy, we feel we are not accomplices to what caused the suffering. Our sympathy proclaims our innocence as well as our impotence. To that extent, it can be (for all our good intentions) an impertinent — if not an inappropriate — response.

What this book offers: interesting thoughts on how we relate to photos of suffering, and on the history of war photography; numerous references to morbid photos and films
What not to expect: many clear conclusions