PORTRAYING WAR

Representations of the conflict in the Middle East such as this image, extensively shared on social networks, have been pouring in since October 7, 2023. Photography narrates the world as it navigates its wars, crises, as well as societal and environmental developments. We have seen scenes of destruction from Gaza, of people weeping or escaping, images of the sort of desolation typical of photographs taken in the aftermath of natural catastrophes. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict presents a particular complexity: how to “make people see” when information is blocked?

Very few photographers are allowed into Gaza, and those who are find it difficult to circulate their images because of the limited internet connection. Not only do they have to determine what needs to be documented, but their photographs then go through a series of filters – the press agencies select which images to send to the media, which in turn chooses which shots to release in line with their political persuasions, their culture and their target audience. Furthermore, the images can also be subject to control and censure by governments and their armies. This means that so-called official photographs largely tend to serve communication rather than information purposes.

Images of Gaza abound nonetheless, which raises the question of their provenance. It is the responsibility of a quality media outlet to verify the origin of any photographs, to formulate their captions carefully, and then choose those most likely to tell the story of a particularly sensitive conflict well. This responsibility is even more crucial these days now that the war of images has intensified with the emergence of visuals generated using new digital technologies. Drawing on countless pre-existing data, taken from photographs of past conflicts or the video game or film world, AI-powered software makes it easier and faster to create stereotypical images.

This phenomenon, exacerbated by the ever-faster dissemination of content on social networks, helps fuel a climate of permanent doubt and mistrust where images are concerned. Even though we know that photographs do not always accurately reflect reality, it is hard not to trust them. Conversely, once identified as such, an “artificial” image is immediately perceived as false information, thereby losing all its impact. In a reality that is becoming a little more speculative each day, what with propaganda and political activism, the challenge remains to find ways to allow this war to be “seen” in order to denounce its atrocity.