The Self Immolation of Quang Duc
Photographer: Malcolm Browne
11th June, 1963. Saigon, Vietnam.
A Buddhist monk known as Quang Duc calmly sits in the middle of a busy street in front of the Cambodian Embassy. A second man pours liquid across the monk's frame and steps away. Within seconds flames race across the fluid and engulf Duc.
He doesn't move. Nor does he make a sound. Complete tranquility amongst a most violent death.
Nearby, photographer Malcolm Browne witnesses the scene while quickly snapping the shot that would define his career.
A Buddhist monk known as Quang Duc calmly sits in the middle of a busy street in front of the Cambodian Embassy. A second man pours liquid across the monk's frame and steps away. Within seconds flames race across the fluid and engulf Duc.
He doesn't move. Nor does he make a sound. Complete tranquility amongst a most violent death.
Nearby, photographer Malcolm Browne witnesses the scene while quickly snapping the shot that would define his career.
Press play in the top left corner to view the image. Use pause to analyse it further.
Duc was protesting against the discriminatory actions of dictator Ngo Dinh Diem. Buddhist's like Duc were not allowed to practise their religion in public, serve in the army or fly a flag representing their beliefs.
As Duc had hoped, the moment drew the attention of the world to the unjust actions of Diem. The effect on individuals in nations thousands of kilometres away was also substantial. Those who viewed the photo were instantly transformed, questioning ideas that only moments before formed the basis of their understanding of everything else. As an audience, we are forced to ask whether there is anything that we hold so dearly as to justify actions of such finality. Perhaps more concerning is our comprehension of the strength required to exist tranquilly within that moment of insanity and oppression, of which the fire is metaphoric, and our sudden realisation of our inability to match Quang Duc's composure in far less remarkable situations. Is it a skill we have lost? Did we trade it for the comforts of ignorance? Are we weaker without it?
Perhaps it is Duc's lack of emotion that makes us question our own responses. He gives us little to interpret and so we must internalise our response. We look within and find ourselves wanting.
Quang was re-cremated on the 19th of June but his heart remained intact and did not burn. It has become symbolic to some who see it as a sign of the power of compassion. The moment is referenced as a turning point in Vietnamese history. Within six months, Diem was overthrown by his own army.
In a somewhat prophetic statement, then president John F Kennedy (whose government had supported Diem's regime) said, "No news picture in history has generated so much emotion as that one."
As Duc had hoped, the moment drew the attention of the world to the unjust actions of Diem. The effect on individuals in nations thousands of kilometres away was also substantial. Those who viewed the photo were instantly transformed, questioning ideas that only moments before formed the basis of their understanding of everything else. As an audience, we are forced to ask whether there is anything that we hold so dearly as to justify actions of such finality. Perhaps more concerning is our comprehension of the strength required to exist tranquilly within that moment of insanity and oppression, of which the fire is metaphoric, and our sudden realisation of our inability to match Quang Duc's composure in far less remarkable situations. Is it a skill we have lost? Did we trade it for the comforts of ignorance? Are we weaker without it?
Perhaps it is Duc's lack of emotion that makes us question our own responses. He gives us little to interpret and so we must internalise our response. We look within and find ourselves wanting.
Quang was re-cremated on the 19th of June but his heart remained intact and did not burn. It has become symbolic to some who see it as a sign of the power of compassion. The moment is referenced as a turning point in Vietnamese history. Within six months, Diem was overthrown by his own army.
In a somewhat prophetic statement, then president John F Kennedy (whose government had supported Diem's regime) said, "No news picture in history has generated so much emotion as that one."
1 ) How do the following elements of the photograph help create the conflicting emotional components?
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2) What are thinking of when you observe this image?
3) How do these questions influence your opinions of other issues that are important to your life?
4) Why is this image particularly effective?
3) How do these questions influence your opinions of other issues that are important to your life?
4) Why is this image particularly effective?
This text relates to transition in an unusual manner. Certainly Duc undergoes a physical transition but, even though he is the most salient and significant feature of the photo, he is not making the most significant change. The emotional impact and subsequent transition falls to the viewer. By using photography, the range of the moment is extended exponentially. Millions undergo a transition, individual at first but becoming social in time.
1) What are the individual and social transitions made possible by this photograph?
2) How successful are fictional texts at emulating the transformative impact of historical moments?
2) How successful are fictional texts at emulating the transformative impact of historical moments?
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Tank Man by Charlie Cole
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The Falling Man by Richard Drew
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Sudan 1993 by Kevin Carter
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