Role and Impact of Visual Imagery During Crisis

Abstract

Reactions of people at large to a crisis are results of their understanding and perceptions. In today’s world driven by social media, with almost instant availability of reports and imagery related to any new or ongoing crisis, reactions and perceptions are quickly created in the minds of people far and wide. People react to and read visuals differently, depending on their understanding of the situation. It is important to understand the way images can lead to strong reactions based on how they are interpreted, and many a time misinterpreted. This chapter specifically looks at the role of visual imagery created during various crisis situations and its psychological and social impact. The way the angles, colors, and content within the frame or window of the camera are created directly leads to forming impressions in the minds of the viewers who are not always in sync with the full reality or severity of the situation. Panic and heightened emotional reactions resulting from insensitive or irresponsible visual imagery freely circulated on the social media platforms can sometimes lead to overreactions and create additional difficulties in managing the crisis at hand. It is important to understand the social responsibility that lies with the creators of these images. Even so, visual images can be a great tool for informing and sensitizing people about a crisis. The challenge is to understand the difference between “right” and “wrong,” and “subjective” and “objective” interpretations and perceptions of these images. This chapter looks at visual images created and circulated in the media during some of the past disasters and has attempted to analyze their impact by broadly categorizing them under various heads based on the role of the creator, the observer, the storyteller, and the aide.