To what extent are Ettore's war photographs important records of violence perpetrated, and to what extent are they acts of violence?

The ethics of Ettore's work are ambiguous. On the one hand, his photographs help him "bear witness" (p. 287) to the violence of war, but on the other hand, Ettore feels increasingly uncomfortable with his work and feels that "every photograph has become a broken oath with himself" (p. 291). To what extent are Ettore's war photographs important records of violence perpetrated, and to what extent are they acts of violence?

Ettore is required to photograph the war because of the belief that in doing this the Italians will be showing to the world their strength and rationale for why this war had to be fought, subjugation of a people in need of betterment from western culture. In particular his photographing of Hirut naked is intended I believe to portray Ethiopian women as perhaps "whorish" perpetuating a stereo type that these women of color as less pure that white Italian women.

The photos show actual events such as throwing the prisoners off the mountain. They were also used as propaganda to influence others and motivate the Italians. The photos of Hirut naked were degrading and diminished the women of Ethiopia in the eyes of the Italians. Degradation is a form of violence.

On the one hand, a single photo can open the worlds’ eyes to the injustices of war which is certainly necessary and good. However in Ettore’s case, his photos were intended to do the exact opposite and show the strength and power of the Italian Empire under Mussolini. Ethical boundaries were nonexistent and subverted for propaganda purposes. His character was complex and deeply saddening as he rationalized these photos as just doing his duty and obeying orders.

The photographs were extremely important, first as propaganda for Italian superiority and later as proof of war crimes. Ettore's Hirut photographs were another kind of violence, as Marcia points out, rape and degradation of women is standard warlike behavior.

The contrast between the photographs which are taken when things are "illuminated" (p. 206) and the idea of shadow adds to the complexity of the novel and the reality of a country at war. The photographs serve as an "objective" record of what happened and therefore are always an important part of narrating historical events.

The sad truth is that they are both. Ettore had no choice but to follow orders particularly because of his own precarious situation. And yet because of the many perspectives that we are shown, we know that he is not without a conscience and is guilt-ridden and seeks redemption. He is also aware of the importance of his work and is therefor meticulous in his archiving.