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All of the photo essays available at Magnum Photos are an impressive display of talent and persuasion. The productions that were most compelling to me, where the presentations titled, "Guantanamo" and "Bitter Fruit". I chose these two pieces because I felt they both showed different, but equally disturbing, sides of the consequences the war in Iraq has had on people involved whom are not usually represented on mainstream media. As a practicing Muslim and also a wife to a U.S. Marine, I can personally identify with both of these productions.
"Guantanamo" is a story in pictures, describing the untold realities of life for U.S. prisoners of "the war on terror." . The American military who work behind the gates of Gitmo, the infamous nickname for this internment camp, have access to many of the comforts of home including a McDonald's, a workout facility, a store, and recreational excursions like scuba diving. Inside the camp is not as comfortable. The over 600 detainees that live inside the walls of Gitmo endure the frustration of being illegally arrested and held indefinitely without formal charges, a severe lack of humane treatment or ability to express grievances, and the lasting psychological damage caused by torturous interrogation tactics and permanent solitude.
The most ironic aspect of Gitmo is found within the relationship between prisoners and prison guards. Arrows on the walls point towards Mecca so that Muslim prisoners can perform prayers, yet, this token of good faith is destroyed by other examples of obvious disregard for the rights of detainees. Prisoners resist the merciless treatment through hungry strikes, but, the same guards who torture them are compelled to save them from starving via forced feedings. Indeed, it is clear that this prison system is just as much a quagmire as the war in Iraq.
"Bitter Fruit" is the tragic images of funerals of military member killed in the war in Iraq. The recurring phrase used in this photo documentary is "where's the glory?" Where is the glory in being a military widow? Where is the glory in death when a small folded flag and brass medals are the only testimonies of life? Where is the glory in dying for your country when the military underhandedly sequesters media coverage of military funerals and the effects on those left behind? The pain and anger these families live with each day is the direct consequences of an illegitimate war and deserves representation. I applaud the creator of this story for having the courage to stand up to a dishonest government and ask, "Where's the glory?"
The photo essay format of persuasion is very effective. We always say that a picture is worth a thousand words. This worth is successfully magnified when you are able to supply both witness and photographer testimony in addition to a snapshot of indisputable evidence. In my opinion photo essays are especially powerful because they appeal to both the intellectual and visual senses, sparking a higher amount of engagement and reaction by viewers.
