Photographic Analysis

Kevin Carter   Pulitzer Prize-winning photo  Starving Child and Vulture  | 1993

Context
This following photo has garnered world wide appeal due to the severity of situation
communicated through its medium. The photo was taken by Famed photographer Kevin
Carter in Sudan. The photographer had travelled to the region for covering the famine
stricken region of Sudan. The photo has become iconic from a historical perspective.
Since the photograph surfaced, social institutions and governments have realized the
adversities of Sudanese people. The photo exhibits a vulture trying to feed of dead
living beings, while a starved and malnourished child is present in a bending position.
The position indicates his lifeless body yearning to be fed and taken care off. The image
portrays a dark truth, a helpless Sudanese kid at the verge of collapse while a vulture is
waiting to feast on him. The reality of the photograph was quite depressing which also
gives an insight to the daily horrors of Kevin’s job. The photograph has not only gained
considerable attention due to its heart wrenching portrayal of the Sudanese people but
has also drawn a fair share of criticism. The criticism has been diverted towards the
photographer for his inability of offering the grief stricken child another chance to life.
The life conditions of the poor Sudanese had come to global attention which triggered
social movements directed towards helping the deprived Sudanese.
By the year 1994, the criticisms had mounted against the photographer in an erratic
manner. He was labelled as heartless, inconsiderate and a selfish professional who was
wasting a child’s chance to survival only for securing a unique photograph. Following
the mounting pressure, the photographer reportedly took his own life till the year end.
As tragic as the photograph was to begin with, its author also encountered an equally
heart wrenching fate.
Is the photo powerful?
The photograph has an iconic history in its own. The photograph had been captured by
the photographers for delivering the impact of famine and deteriorating human health
conditions in South Sudan. The areas were famine stricken due to extreme poverty and
lack of resources. Interventions form United Nations were made to provide rehabilitation
and survival resources for the Sudanese people. In a similar context, Operation Lifeline
Sudan was launched. Photojournalists were required to gauge and present the impact
of famine situation to the entire world.
This photograph is economic and powerful due to the message it has been able to
deliver. The poor boy leaning towards the ground with a malnourished skeletal structure
while a conniving eagle awaits his dealt shows the deteriorated value of human health
in times of famines. The famine stricken region was witnessing incredibly alarming
amounts of death due to frequent starvation. The photograph embodies the lack of
empathy and humanitarian qualities of the rest of the world. It also expresses the fact
that financially strong nations have the ability to protect and nurture their citizens while
countries who do not have sustainable economic resources cannot bring justice to its
citizens. The photo serves many questions to the government, civil society and
jurisprudence in a global context. Securing aid was incredibly difficult for the Sudanese
region amidst the 1993 famine. Once the photograph gained recognition, social
organizations intervened to help with the lifesaving supplies.
The concept of famine cannot be discussed outside the context of poverty. There is
simply no way to look at it without discussing poverty (Sen, 1981). However not every
famine deals with economic poverty rather politics is also an important part of instigating
famine like situations in the country. The concept of Food Availability decline is of major
importance in understanding the background of famines. According to Sen (1981) the
causes of famine are about decline in food resources which are directly caused by
floods and droughts. Another aspect of the following approach deals with the population
growth. Resources are usually scarce and food related resources can only support a
certain population. After the population surges become uncontrollable, the decline in
food availability is inevitable (Malthus ,1993). The scholarly approaches to famine also suggest
that famine is not always caused by food shortages. Rather it is caused by wrong entitlements.
The following thought can be related to the example of famine situation in Wollo. The food was
reportedly moving out of the famine stricken region (Sen, 1981). The lack of fair access of food
resources in famine stricken region presents an angle signaling policy issues. It can be
established that drought and flood situations can culminate into a famine situation.
The discussion around food entitlement takes further direction through past observations of
Ethiopian famines. The historical perspective indicates that famines in poor countries are
Ethiopia have been related to population pressure and occurrence of national calamities.
However, the region is severely affected by class oriented famine. The weaker segment of the
society is much likely to experience famine adversities due to lack of policy framework. The food
entitlement issue deprives the poor segment even further from food escalating the intensity of
famines.

Concluding, the visual depiction of the photograph symbolizes the starving child as a
representative of the poor and marginalized segment of society. He is considered
vulnerable and deprived of basic rights to the extent that an animal can supersede his
existence without much hassle. It also embodies the societal truth of de sensitized
societies. Societies which are profienent in their means donot look beyond their
surroundings for advocatuiing the rights of the needy. The photograph represents every
community affected by human right violations. Adversities represented through the
photograph indicate tthat despite approwaching modern life styles and chasing
technological transofmrtaions the world still needs compassion. Expressing compassion
for the lesser priveledged should not be judged as an extra ordinary favor rather be a
part of basic ethics. The impact of this photograph was widely translated through aids
flowing into the country which shows the power of journalism.