Pérez-Reverte: 'The Public No Longer Wants the Truth, They Don't Want Guts'
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Acclaimed Spanish writer Arturo Pérez-Reverte believes the era of war reporting is over, stating the public no longer wants to hear the unvarnished truth.
- He argues that contemporary audiences prefer comfortable narratives and avoid uncomfortable realities, leading to a decline in the demand for in-depth reporting.
- Pérez-Reverte's new book, 'Enviado especial,' compiles his early chronicles and reports from conflict zones, accompanied by a photography exhibition.
Arturo Pérez-Reverte, a literary giant whose novels often delve into the darker aspects of human nature, has delivered a stark assessment of the current state of journalism and public appetite for truth. Speaking at the presentation of his new book, 'Enviado especial,' which gathers his early chronicles and conflict reports, Pérez-Reverte, a former war reporter himself, declared the profession 'dead.' His diagnosis is blunt: the public no longer desires 'the truth' or 'guts' – they prefer to remain in a state of blissful ignorance, unwilling to have their 'party spoiled' by uncomfortable realities.
El público ya no quiere que le cuenten la verdad, no quiere vísceras.
This sentiment, he argues, reflects a broader societal shift. The intense, eight-second attention spans of today's audiences, coupled with an inherent aversion to discomfort, have rendered traditional, in-depth reporting economically unviable. "No merece la pena gastarse el dinero en mandar a nadie," (It's not worth spending money to send anyone), he stated, lamenting the superficiality and disinterest that characterize contemporary discourse. Pérez-Reverte paints a picture of a world retreating into a 'cocoon of cotton' that anesthesizes its inhabitants, a far cry from the raw, immediate experiences he documented decades ago.
No queremos mirar, no queremos que nos cuenten la verdad, y el que lo cuente es un aguafiestas; nadie quiere que le estropeen la fiesta.
The accompanying photography exhibition, showcasing images from his reporting days between 1974 and 1985, serves as a powerful counterpoint to this modern apathy. Pérez-Reverte notes that many of these photographs, depicting the harsh realities of conflict, would be deemed 'inadmissible' today, pixelated or suppressed to avoid offending delicate sensibilities. This exhibition, alongside the book, is not just a retrospective but a poignant tribute to his fallen colleagues and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of transmitting the truth, no matter the personal cost. For readers of Pérez-Reverte's novels, this work offers a crucial insight into the origins of his unflinching literary gaze, revealing the profound impact of his experiences on his worldview.
Muchas de esas fotos no se publicarían hoy para no herir sensibilidades, se pixelarían. Son imágenes inadmisibles en el mundo actual porque son incómodas.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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