Philippe Lecaplain's Book Revisits Censored 9/11 Photo 'The Falling Man' by Richard Drew
In June, Librisphaera released Philippe Lecaplain's book, L'homme qui tombe, which has been nominated for the prix Roman News. The RFI journalist delves into Richard Drew's famous photograph of a man plummeting from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, taken after United Airlines Flight 175 hit the south tower. This striking image was swiftly censored in the U.S. due to its shocking nature. Lecaplain emphasizes its technical brilliance and argues that the victim's grace fosters viewer empathy. The censorship indicates a societal discomfort with mourning, prompting apologies from various newspapers. While largely self-censored in American media, the photograph is on display at the Jeu de Paume in Paris until September 24.
Key facts
- Richard Drew photographed the falling man on September 11, 2001, while working for Associated Press.
- The photo was almost immediately censored in the United States for being too shocking.
- Philippe Lecaplain's book L'homme qui tombe was published in June by Librisphaera and selected for the prix Roman News.
- The identity of the falling man remains unknown despite journalistic investigations.
- Lecaplain notes the photo's technical perfection and says it could be mistaken for AI today.
- The image was removed from circulation after newspapers received angry letters, with some issuing apologies.
- US media still largely self-censors the photo, often hiding it behind age restrictions on social media.
- An original print is on view at the Jeu de Paume in Paris until September 24, from Elton John and David Furnish's collection.
Entities
Artists
- Philippe Lecaplain
- Richard Drew
- Elton John
- David Furnish
Institutions
- Associated Press
- Librisphaera
- prix Roman News
- RFI
- United Airlines
- Jeu de Paume
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Paris
- France