THDBlog reports on 'Development Pornography':
“Upwards of 90% of the images of the majority world that are seen in the western media are produced by white photographers from the USA or Europe. This results in a one dimensional view often driven by a negative news agenda or the need to raise money.”via AIDG
“Recognizing everybody’s communication rights in the information society is not mere slogan or campaign; it’s an integral part of social justice.”...Part of the reason for this kind of post-colonial choreography by INGOs is because they are still required to be the visual mediators of the poor world to the rich world. In Western society, our INGOs are inter-cultural gatekeepers. And you would often have for example, the young white INGO nurse talking passionately on television beside starving children…” Full story.
photo courtesy of AIDG Blog and Reuters
2 comments:
the suggestion is that it is the INGOs and whites that are responsible for the warped view of the world. The issue is that 99.9% of Black africa (particularly politicians) couldnot be bothered to pick up a camera or care about the way the rest of the World views its continent because they have a vested interest in ensuring that the handouts continue
I saw your post on Boing Boing and have a VERY similar experience when I travel to Ouanaminthe, Haiti, each year with church groups. I end up getting photos like this while the natives and even missionaries who work there regularly get many more natural photos. Quite a phenomenon!
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