Watching a film is never a neutral act. Every choice to watch — and every choice not to watch — is an ethical decision that reflects our values, our interests, and our relationship to the world.
This essay explores the ethics of spectatorship: what does it mean to watch suffering on screen? How do we engage with films that challenge our comfort? What responsibilities do we have as viewers?
The answers, this essay argues, are more complex than we usually acknowledge — and understanding them will change how you watch films.