A review by ciaochow
Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag
5.0
Growing up, you see films get content rated for violence, but I don't think I ever really thought why. This was such an interesting exercise in thinking, re-thinking the ethics of looking at (or portraying) suffering...until I realised how immune we have become to violence and images of suffering.
What is the point of compassion? Surely it is worse to evoke empathy and compassion if there is no defined course of action to actively help (if that is even the right thing to do, save for white saviour syndrome)? What about on the part of the portrayed? Why is it always the question of power at stake?!?!?!?!!
What is the point of compassion? Surely it is worse to evoke empathy and compassion if there is no defined course of action to actively help (if that is even the right thing to do, save for white saviour syndrome)? What about on the part of the portrayed? Why is it always the question of power at stake?!?!?!?!!