THE MEDIA, COMPASSION AND SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN DISTANT SUFFERING

Topic 

THE MEDIA, COMPASSION AND SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN DISTANT SUFFERING

Instructions 

Write an essay paper addressing the media and specifically compassion and the sense of responsibility in distant suffering.

Answer Preview 

The different representations of distant suffering are typical in the news media. The most common forms of representation include text and image visuals, appealing to many audiences (Allan 2013). Such media representations show victims as unfortunate, inferior and helpless, while spectators appear as the fortunate, happy and useful in alleviating the suffering. The fortunate holds the responsibility of relieving the position of victims in the public sphere. Indeed, and as asserted by Chouliaraki (2006), the victims should become the focus of the fortunate such that they must act responsibly towards them. Therefore, the media representation of distant suffering mirrors its critical role in linking sufferers and the spectators who have moral obligations towards the victims. However, it is critical to understand that this relationship is associated with emotions; emotions determine how spectators feel or respond to the plight of distant others. As Chouliaraki (2006, p. 8) states, incidents of pity present suffering as a visually appealing display, but the displays provide the fortunate with different levels of emotional engagement with the victims. Therefore, it is important to understand how the media shapes the feelings of pity and empathy. Equally, the concept of cosmopolitanism shows that it is the news media that shapes these emotions, and defines the victims and the fortunate. Thus, emotional attachment is a natural feeling, but is socially construed. In the context of compassion and morally responsible engagement, in this sense, the media can represent distant suffering with or without engagement.

Word Count: 2300