 | ||
| Author: Janine, Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkcotton/3906050652/ |
Steph's question on whether we should use photo's of anorexic people beings up many issues. The risk of using such images includes inspiring sufferers to be that skinny, making our feature seem like an anti pro-ana forum, or further alienating people with anorexia by framing them as a spectacle. The benefits are the shock-factor of the images visually engagers users, highlight the gravity of the illness, and force the reality of the culturally devalued illness into the public domain.
It would be good to hear from others in the group, but personally I feel these photos should only be used if they specifically relate to one of our pieces. It is not an issue of further propagating thinness as Benjamin Radford notes, 'Images of thin people cannot "encourage" anorexia, any more than images of cancer patients "encourage" cancer, or photos of diabetics "encourage" diabetes.'[1] I just think having such images on, say, the front page of our feature is a gratuitous way of drawing in users and misleading them into thinking our feature is an anti pro-ana site (like the visually driven piece on 'Don'tPanic') rather than a neutral investigation into pro-ana sites. If, for example, our interview with the psychologist focuses deeply on the isolated and sickening mind frame of users of pro-ana sites, then images like Steph's may be appropriate. However, until we have relevant content, I think we should shy away from relying on these images for aesthetic pull.
[1]Radford, B. Thinspiration: Do Web Sites Encourage Anorexia? 19 November 2009. URL: http://www.livescience.com/5881-thinspiration-web-sites-encourage-anorexia.html.
No comments:
Post a Comment