In a world where images of war and suffering pop up daily on the news, it’s easy to become desensitised and go about our daily lives indifferent to the suffering of others.
Through her poem named simply “War Photographer”, Carol Ann Duffy offers the reader a unique glimpse into the lives of those whose job it is to capture them. Told through the lens of a war photographer, Duffy’s poem aims to make people confront the harsh realities of war and question their own reactions to the images they consume on a daily occurrence.
In this article, part of a series analysing some of the world's most famous and influential poems, we’ll explore what makes “War Photographer” so highly regarded amongst those in poetic circles. Keep reading more to find out about its themes, structure, and more.
At its core, “War Photographer” is a story centred around the emotional and moral struggles journalists often feel when capturing images of atrocities taking place in wars.
Source: Photo by Trevor Brown
The poem follows the protagonist as he develops numerous photographs in his darkroom. As he goes along, he begins to reflect on the terrible events he has witnessed and how there is a disconnect between his experiences and the lives of those who view his images.
Throughout the course of the poem, Duffy uses a mix of powerful imagery and moving insights to show the true cost of war on human lives. Additionally, we also see how seeing such terrible destruction first-hand affects the photographer psychologically, leading him to question his role and the impact of his work.
What are the Main Themes of "War Photographer"?
The poem’s narrative clearly focuses on two main themes - the horror of war and society's growing indifference to the victims of conflicts. Throughout the poem, Duffy manages to bring these themes together, showing the sharp difference between the photographer's experiences and how his audience reacts with complete detachment.
Theme
Line
Meaning
Horror of War
"spools of suffering set out in ordered rows"
This line illustrates the large scale and systematic destruction caused by war while also implying that photographers' efforts to make sense of the chaos are ultimately in vain.
Indifference to Conflict
"The reader's eyeballs prick with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers"
This comparison of a person doing everyday activities with a brief acknowledgement of suffering elsewhere in the world is intended to highlight how disconnected people are from war and how their empathy is fleeting.
How is “War Photographer” Supposed to be Interpreted?
All in all, “War Photographer” is essentially a critique of how the media at home influences how people view war, as well as the moral responsibilities of the people who are in charge of documenting it.
Through her writing, Duffy encourages us to try and consider the emotional toll placed on the photographer, who has no choice but to maintain a professional distance from his human subjects regardless of how he may feel inside.
But there's another less strikingly obvious layer to the poem, too. While the photographer's images are eye-opening, they don’t fully convey the full scope of the horrors taking place during these conflicts.
Through her poem, the author makes a case that to truly understand how devastating war is, we need to listen to the personal stories and experiences of those affected instead of just briefly gawking at images from the comfort of our homes.
Source: Photo by Peter Lawrence
What Poetic Techniques are Used in the Poem?
Duffy uses various poetic techniques to make her words more striking and meaningful. For example, religious imagery is used pretty extensively, with lines like “as though this were a church and he a priest preparing to intone a Mass” showing how the photographer's work is elevated to a sacred and solemn act - sort of like a religious ritual.
Additionally, Duffy also uses similes in her poem as well. For instance, when describing a dying man, she writes, "the blood stained into foreign dust. A hundred agonies in black-and-white from which his editor will pick out five or six for Sunday's supplement."
Explained simply, this simile compares the photographs taken by the protagonist to a sort of physical embodiment of the suffering and pain captured within them, creating a vivid yet disturbing image for the reader.
Duffy also uses alliteration, which is when words that are close together start with the same sound. For example, in the phrase "Solutions slop in trays," the "s" sound is repeated. The reason for this? Well, the repetition creates a rhythmic effect and helps us picture the photographer's careful process of developing the images.
Lastly, the form of the poem adds to its overall effect as well. It has four stanzas, each with the same number of lines, and the last two lines of each stanza also rhyme. This structure is done on purpose to create a feeling of order and control, directly mirroring the photographer's efforts to do the same with the scenes he has captured.
How does Duffy use Language to Convey Meaning?
Duffy uses a bunch of different language techniques to get across the deep meaning and emotions in "War Photographer." The words she chooses throughout the poem are purposeful and powerful, painting vivid pictures and stirring up strong feelings in the reader.
For example, in this line "the only light is red and softly glows", she uses sensory language to create a serious yet rather intimate vibe.
Alongside this, Duffy also uses contrasting language as a means to highlight the huge difference between the photographer's life and the lives of those he sees in his shots. For instance, phrases like "rural England" and "ordinary pain" are pretty different from the phrases "nightmare heat" and "a hundred agonies".
The inspiration behind “War Photographer”
So where exactly did Carol Ann Duffy get her ideas for “War Photographer” from - was she involved in war journalism herself at one point in her life? Not quite, instead, she drew inspiration for her poem from her friendship with Don Mcullin, a well-known British photojournalist who is extremely famous for his war photography. Overall, McCullin's experiences covering conflicts in various regions, such as Vietnam and Northern Ireland had a massive influence on how Duffy decided to portray characters in her poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Carol Ann Duffy’s expertly written poem “ War Photographer” takes a look at the inner turmoil experienced by those who capture images of war for the rest of the world to see. Through its poignant narrative, it urges the reader to think about the toll that documenting such distressing scenes can take on a person.
Additionally, the poem also highlights the disturbing disconnect between those forced to live in the middle of conflict and the fleeting empathy felt by the viewers of said content who are far removed from the violence.
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Taylor Bate
UK born writer interested in photography, history, nature, and travel
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