The unbearable lightness of the photographic click

Abstract

This article deals with the ethic in photojournalistic coverage of wars and violence, with emphasis on the so-called shock photos. To better support the discussion, it historically discloses wars which were photographically covered, brings them into context and makes correlations to the evolutions on warfare power and photographic equipment. The origins of the horror aesthetic is shown for further discussion, from the standpoint of its media usage, the ethic commitment of producers, editors and public in the production, publication and consumption of shocking images.