In The Cruel Radiance; Susie Linfield challenges the idea that photographs of political violence exploit their subjects and pander to the voyeuristic tendencies of their viewers. Instead she argues passionately that looking at such imagesmdash;and learning to see the people in themmdash;is an ethically and politically necessary act that connects us to our modern history of violence and probes the human capacity for cruelty. Grappling with critics from Walter Benjamin and Bertolt Brecht to Susan Sontag and the postmodernsmdash;and analyzing photographs from such events as the Holocaust; Chinarsquo;s Cultural Revolution; and recent terrorist actsmdash;Linfield explores the complex connection between photojournalism and the rise of human rights ideals. In the bookrsquo;s concluding section; she examines the indispensable work of Robert Capa; James Nachtwey; and Gilles Peress and asks how photography should respond to the increasingly nihilistic trajectory of modern warfare.
#688587 in eBooks 2012-02-01 2012-02-01File Name: B0083V431A
Review
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Interesting parts...By CarolynWhile many of the anecdotes are interesting. the narratives are a bit rambling and often irrelevant. I was mainly interested in the biographical aspects of these artists and how they related to their composition and lyrics. The title of the book implies that connection. Much of the detail and data seemed to me to be superfluous. and I found myself getting bored and skimming through it.2 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A Trifecta of Sing / SongwritersBy S. SperryA great book about the early careers of three of my favorite singer / songwriters. There is still something to learn about these three. It is very creative how the author intertwines the lives of Browne. Taylor Stevens. I didnt realize of the respect shown towards and the influence each had on each other. A great addition to ones musical library.0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. jacksonBy Roxann Zarchinlove jackson browne
