The  Vulture and The Little Girl: The Vulture and The Little Girl

Sreetharan Marimuthu; Ramalinggam Rajamanickam

Authors

Sreetharan Marimuthu Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Ramalinggam Rajamanickam Faculty of Law, The National University of Malaysia, UKM.

Abstract

Some cultures of the world refuse to be photographed. They believe that a photograph takes more than just an image, it takes one’s soul instead. The Vulture and Little Girl, a 1993 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph, depicts the story of Kevin Carter. Kevin Carter's photograph not only garnered him the Pulitzer Prize but also subjected him to widespread criticism for capturing the image without intervening to assist the child. This review explores Carter's photograph through sociological theories, including social stratification, conflict theory, modern sociological perspectives and the global failure to address such atrocities. It also uses the photograph as an epistemological tool to explore the visual composition and quality as artistic benchmarks, drawing comparisons with other iconic images to establish critical criteria in multimedia ethics, style, and social impact.

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The Vulture and The Little Girl