Susan Sontag writes, "Harrowing photographs do not inevitably lose their power to shock. But they don't help us much to understand. Narratives can make us understand." What does she mean by this statement? Do you agree or disagree? Using one film and one photograph that has appeared in the mainstream news on a similar subject, argue your position: Do narratives--i.e. movies with stories that take place over a period of time--help us "understand" more than a single still image? If you agree, what exactly do stories contribute to our understanding of the events that are represented? If you disagree, why do photographic still images hold more power than stories? You must use outside sources and quotes to support your argument.
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