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Visual empathy and its limits
Photographs can also elicit empathy. A well-composed portrait can remind viewers of shared vulnerability and the human costs of political conflict. But empathy elicited through images is fragile: it can be conditional, partisan, and quickly withdrawn when an opposing narrative dominates. The pictured face’s potential to generate compassion hinges on how the surrounding text frames them—either as a wrongdoer who deserves scorn or as a person who deserves protection. Visual empathy can be powerful, but it must be paired with context and proportionality.
