Photography and Catastrophe: Reading Photographs of the Disaster Event
Abstract: This article
analyses 24 selected photographs—organised into two photo series—about one particular
catastrophic event: the impacts of Merapi Volcano’s eruption in Java,
Indonesia, on October to November 2010. These photographs are made by two
different groups ofprofession, professional photojournalists and volunteers,
who worked in relatively same locations during the post-eruption. The
analytical methods are informed by RolandBarthes’ thought on semiotics as well
as critical theories in visual media specifically photography. This critical
reading leads me to found distinctive representationsconstructed by each photo
series. There are three elements that create this kind ofrepresentations, they
are the relation of subject-object, visual codes, and visual perception. The
first photo series made by professional photojournalists represent disaster
event as a paradox: between “destruction” and “beauty” of the nature.
Meanwhile, the photo series photographed by volunteers more focus on
representation of the survivors in rehabilitating their lives. All these
findings result in the conclusion that shows the role of photography— on
perception and memory construction regarding time, space, body and mind—is exceedingly
relative, particularly relating to catastrophe and disaster.
Penulis: Zaki Habibi
Kode Jurnal: jpkomunikasidd110174
