Drug Photography

Published: Aug. 12, 2020, 5 a.m.

We’re bombarded by images every day, whether we’re on Instagram or Twitter, reading a newspaper or Googling a recipe. Some images, like pictures of kittens, might make us feel happy. Other images, such as pictures of violence or drug use, might evoke feelings of disgust. But can those pictures also help us become more empathetic?  Dr. Linda Steer from the Department of Visual Art talks about her work on drug photography and how empathy can be a complicated a thing. Join us as we consider how the images we consume can make us more empathetic to others.  

Find a full transcript at https://brocku.ca/humanities/foreword

Links

Entangled empathy, drug use, and photographs of suffering (International Journal of Drug Policy, Vol. 65 March 2016)

New research shows empathy can shape drug policy (Brock News)

Ohio police post graphic photo of overdosed parents in SUV with 4-year-old child in backseat (Global News)

Linda Steer faculty profile

Department of Visual Arts, Brock University

Credits

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Foreword is hosted and produced by Alison Innes for the Faculty of Humanities at Brock University.

Sound design and editing by Serena Atallah. Theme music is by Khalid Imam.

Special thanks to Brock University’s MakerSpace and Brock University Marketing and Communications for studio and web support.

This podcast is financially supported by the Faculty of Humanities at Brock University.