The Dead Body on Television

Black Hawk Down

This flow follows the circulation of images of a dead American and their emotional and political consequences.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Body in the Street A Body in the Street from "Black Hawk Down". Public Violence A Captive’s View Michael Durant later learned that bodies of American soldiers had been dragged through Mogadishu.

A Body in the Street from "Black Hawk Down". Public Violence A Captive’s View Michael Durant later learned that bodies of American soldiers had been dragged through Mogadishu.

Public Violence A Captive’s View Michael Durant later learned that bodies of American soldiers had been dragged through Mogadishu. The images revealed the treatment of the dead and the anger surrounding the crash sites. A Moment of Shame Somali lawyer Bashir Haji Yusuf wanted to object to the abuse but feared the crowd. His hesitation reflected the power of collective anger over individual moral judgment.

The Images Reach America The Images Reach America from "Black Hawk Down". A National Audience Watches Television Coverage CNN showed images of a dead American being dragged through the streets.

The Images Reach America from "Black Hawk Down". A National Audience Watches Television Coverage CNN showed images of a dead American being dragged through the streets.

A National Audience Watches Television Coverage CNN showed images of a dead American being dragged through the streets. Soldiers at the base watched in silence, while President Bill Clinton saw the coverage and demanded answers. Shock Becomes Pressure The broadcast made the battle's humiliation and loss immediate to people far from Somalia. It intensified demands to explain the mission and reconsider its direction.

The Image Shapes Policy The Image Shapes Policy from "Black Hawk Down". A Political Turning Point Questions in Washington The televised images accompanied reports of dead and wounded Americans and a captured pilot.

The Image Shapes Policy from "Black Hawk Down". A Political Turning Point Questions in Washington The televised images accompanied reports of dead and wounded Americans and a captured pilot.

A Political Turning Point Questions in Washington The televised images accompanied reports of dead and wounded Americans and a captured pilot. Congress and the administration confronted the political consequences of the battle. Withdrawal Follows The government chose to end the pursuit of Aidid and withdraw. The images did not alone determine policy, but they helped make the human and political costs impossible to ignore.

October 3, 1993, night

October 4, 1993

October 4–6, 1993