We have discussed recently the powerful and subsequent numbing effect of terrible imaging.  And this brought us to Susan Sontag’s point that each time a terrible, heart-biting image it raises the ante.  The next one must be more terrible to overcome the desensitization.

CNN World has recently posted a series of the “Twenty-five Most Iconic Images.” And I thought that I would share them with you.  Not all of them are terrible.  Some even make you smile – and then you feel guilty for that.  Those that are horrible truly illustrate Sontag’s point.  They are all part of our collective consciousness.  If you remember them from when they first appear they take you back to the original moment of nightmare.  Many are, well, truly gut wrenching.