Overview:

• "War Photographer" is a poem by Carol Ann Duffy, exploring the experiences of those who document wars.
• The poem focuses on the internal conflict a war photographer experiences, juxtaposing the safety of his darkroom with the violence he captures through his lens.
• Duffy utilises a multitude of poetic devices such as enjambment, simile, metaphor, and a deliberate structure to underline the themes in the poem.

Themes:

Theme: War and Violence

• A central theme in "War Photographer" is that of war and violence. The details captured through the lens of the war photographer highlight the human costs of conflict.

Theme: Distance and Detachment

• The poem explores the theme of distance and detachment. Despite being present at the scenes of violence, the photographer is also physically and emotionally detached from it, creating a stark contrast between the realities of war and the readers of the photographs.

Theme: Ethics and Responsibility

• "War Photographer" delves into themes of ethics and responsibility. It examines the moral implications of using suffering as a subject for artistic creation, and it questions the responsibilities of photographers, audiences, and society at large to respond to the horrors of war.

Devices and Structure:

Device: Enjambment

• Duffy makes use of enjambment to mirror the continuous march of war and its relentless, unstoppable nature.

Device: Vivid Imagery

• Duffy’s use of vivid imagery transports readers to the war zone, highlighting the devastation of war and our desensitisation to it.

Device: Four Stanzas Structure

• "War Photographer" is composed of four six-line stanzas, creating a deliberate structure that gives a sense of order and control, directly contrasting with the chaos of war described in the poem.

Interpretation:

• "War Photographer" presents a poignant criticism of the modern world's detachment from war atrocities.
• The deliberate structure, language choice and vivid imagery underline the contrast between the comfort of the home front and the harsh reality of war zones.
• Through "War Photographer", Duffy prompts readers to question their own ethical response to images depicting suffering and to consider the role of the media in shaping our understanding of global conflicts.