The Efficiency of Awareness

In The Ethics of Imagemaking, Jay Ruby criticizes several methods of distributing and displaying images—from art exhibits to news photographs to documentaries. His argument is that they either don't tell the whole truth, or when they do, it's at the cost of the individual's involved. However, what struck me as particularly unsettling was his view on the influence of documentary films. According to Ruby, "Power comes more directly from the end of a gun than it does from the lens of a camera. Few revolutions were won in a movie house or on the six o'clock news." I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement. While guns and violence may be effective in creating upheaval and some form of immediate change, the power of films and news coverage continuously proves just as impactful.

Netflix has played a major role in making documentary films more accessible and thus more effective. With over 1,000 documentaries available to stream instantly, Netflix has made the documentary film essentially more "mainstream." Instead of having to find a theater where a particular documentary is being played, indicating that the individual has prior knowledge of the film already, people can just browse Netflix's nicely organized category and find a documentary film that is either popular at the moment or one that caters to their interests. Documentaries such as Blackfish and Food, Inc. gained significant popularity recently and raised attention as well as progress regarding the topics they covered.

Blackfish, CNN's documentary about the horrors at SeaWorld, has resulted in several changes since its release. According to the news outlet, Mic, not only has SeaWorld's stock dropped as a result of the documentary, but legislative action is being taken to "end the use of performing orcas in theme shows, ban captive breeding and prohibit the import and export of the so-called 'killer' whales."

Similarly, Food, Inc. showcased the atrocities associated with the corporate food industry. In a Q&A with the filmmakers, PBS revealed several legislative steps that have been taken to improve food safety, as well as progress regarding other subjects explored in the film. It's evident that these documentaries are having some sort of impact.

I think it's quite ignorant to say that power can't come "from the lens of a camera." The power that documenting and distributing images provides is simply making people more aware. When people are aware about an issue, they can do something about it—make change, win "revolutions." Documentaries, art exhibits, news photography, and news broadcasting all educate the viewer about a specific issue. Dismissing them as ineffective is essentially dismissing the power of individuals to create change.