Discussion of a Scene from Safe Area Gorazde - Candy Tossing and Guidance

One of the bad things about the field of journalism, like most fields, is that the job has its own stereotypes. Unfortunately, there are those who work in the field living up to the stereotypes. Journalists are assumed to be people who record horrible events just to get stardom and money. Joe Sacco is not one of these journalists but he portray those who abuse the power of news. The first panel depicts a stereotype coming true.

Another interesting about this page is the debate whether a bon-bon or a cigarette was better for a kid. The kid originally received a Drina cigarette but was given a bon-bon. In Sacco's words, "Poor kid, he didn't want no stinking bon-bon...but at least we set a good example." The use of the panels involving a camera man throwing candy and journalists handing out cigarettes and candy make an interesting juxtaposition. It shows suffering should not be staged by practioners of news, there are more genuine reports that would need to be covered. An obligation of a journalist is to help people by uncovering horrible truths. Sacco did just that and illustrated what not to do with starving children in a war torn country.

- Kristopher