Stealing the Soul: Photography as a Form of Exploitation

When you tell people you work in Africa, the first thing they ask is "Do you have pictures?"  I recently had a conversation with a colleague who just finished working with the PeaceCorps in Latin American for 4 years and he was able to conceptualize what has been hard to explain to everyone who asks that question: That there exists an power differential between photographer and subject in the Global South.  He explained that, especially in rural communities in South America, inhabitants would refuse to have their picture taken because they believed the photograph would "steal their soul".  While this may sound like an ignorant idea if taken literally, the inhabitants were trying to express the complex and abstract concept of exploitation.

By definition, exploitation is: "selfish utilization" or the "utilization of another person or group for selfish purposes"

The inhabitants didn't actually believe that the camera would physically steal their immortal being, but were trying to communicate across language and cultural barriers that they felt uncomfortable posing for the enjoyment of foreigners.  In many cultures, it is incredibly rude to begin a conversation without making the proper introductions.  I am still learning the art of office dynamics in Kenya and continue to catch myself making business requests before going through the proper morning introductions.  So whipping out your camera to take the picture of individuals you have never met can be a huge cultural faux pas in many situations in the Global South and around the world.