Violence, Pain, Morality and Subjectivity

As a therapist, I often wonder if I have the "right" to empathize with clients who have been through excruciatingly painful experiences. When I see media images of "inhumanities," I usually feel conflicted about whether I have the "right" to observe it. I realize that seeing the picture means that a media member has selected this person's image as a desirable representation of the tragedy that they are documenting-like casting directors in an especially gruesome piece of entertainment. I think of the pictures that were taken and did not get selected for mass release, and I wonder about the moment they were photographed or filmed by a media member. How would the subject feel if they learned that after having their most painful moments photographed, their photos were not deemed "powerful" enough to stay off the cutting room floor.

There is a true sense of helplessness that comes along with the viewing of images of torture. I use the images to reflect on the differences between the experiences of the people in the pictures and my own life experience. I feel gratefulness for my safety, followed by shame for my life of privilege. I feel grateful for being relieved of my ignorance and completely isolated from the subject of the picture. I know that most of my motivation as a social worker comes from the desire to relieve people's pain. I know that the power to relieve someone's pain gives me some sense of control over the amount of suffering in the world. To see an image of torture is a rattling, mocking reminder of those that I will never be able to help in any way.