Comments on: Without Sanctuary http://www.davidebowman.com/without-sanctuary.htm questions, answers, thoughts, theories, observations, speculations, and assorted bits of information. Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:53:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: William Howard http://www.davidebowman.com/without-sanctuary.htm/comment-page-1#comment-30451 William Howard Fri, 24 Sep 2010 04:03:44 +0000 http://www.davidebowman.com/?p=2193#comment-30451 After having explored the online exhibit Without Sanctuary, I can safely say that I have been disturbed in ways that I have not been in a very long time. I have often heard the phrase “a picture can say a thousand words”, and I know that throughout the history of mass media, the usage of imagery has always been used to evoke a kind of internal and base reaction from the audience. The fact that many of these images were printed on postcards is even more unsettling, as it suggests that there was a time that people were comfortable enough with such imagery that they were willing so share them with their friends and family. One image that stood out to me was one of five African American males who were bound together and hung from a tree by a mob that reportedly numbered in the thousands. I noticed it above the others because it reminded me of a particularly disturbing image I saw in the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. It was titled “The American troops discover the concentration camps” and it depicted a number of troops looking at what appeared to be a tangled mass of Jewish corpses and barbed wire. Perhaps it is just me, but I find it difficult to make any statements about race and ethnic differences in light of such horrific violence. It brings to mind a quote I heard a long time ago (but have long since forgotten the origin of) that basically explains how it doesn’t matter who you are or how you look; we’re all the same once we’re dead. Seeing images like this, I really do feel that it is difficult to look for signs of racial difference in these images. All I can see is a bunch of mangled, butchered corpses, and the mob mentality that I know is responsible. I suppose then, that I should conclude with that remark: I feel that the most terrifying (and common) way in which people are desensitized to violence is by being absorbed into the mob mentality. After having explored the online exhibit Without Sanctuary, I can safely say that I have been disturbed in ways that I have not been in a very long time. I have often heard the phrase “a picture can say a thousand words”, and I know that throughout the history of mass media, the usage of imagery has always been used to evoke a kind of internal and base reaction from the audience. The fact that many of these images were printed on postcards is even more unsettling, as it suggests that there was a time that people were comfortable enough with such imagery that they were willing so share them with their friends and family. One image that stood out to me was one of five African American males who were bound together and hung from a tree by a mob that reportedly numbered in the thousands. I noticed it above the others because it reminded me of a particularly disturbing image I saw in the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. It was titled “The American troops discover the concentration camps” and it depicted a number of troops looking at what appeared to be a tangled mass of Jewish corpses and barbed wire. Perhaps it is just me, but I find it difficult to make any statements about race and ethnic differences in light of such horrific violence. It brings to mind a quote I heard a long time ago (but have long since forgotten the origin of) that basically explains how it doesn’t matter who you are or how you look; we’re all the same once we’re dead. Seeing images like this, I really do feel that it is difficult to look for signs of racial difference in these images. All I can see is a bunch of mangled, butchered corpses, and the mob mentality that I know is responsible. I suppose then, that I should conclude with that remark: I feel that the most terrifying (and common) way in which people are desensitized to violence is by being absorbed into the mob mentality.

]]> By: Michael E. Rubin http://www.davidebowman.com/without-sanctuary.htm/comment-page-1#comment-21863 Michael E. Rubin Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:38:40 +0000 http://www.davidebowman.com/?p=2193#comment-21863 Hi David, It was a pleasure to meet you yesterday at the exhibit. I wish we could have had more of an opportunity to talk. You've echoed a lot of the feelings I was experiencing as well. It was the mundane everyday matter-of-factness in these photos that was the most shocking and horrific. To see children brought to these events as if they were a Sunday afternoon picnic was simply unbelievable. But it (sadly) really happened. Kevin Dugan setup a terrific Delicious page with links to all the different postings: http://delicious.com/prblog/NURFC Take care and be well. ...Michael Hi David,

It was a pleasure to meet you yesterday at the exhibit. I wish we could have had more of an opportunity to talk.

You’ve echoed a lot of the feelings I was experiencing as well. It was the mundane everyday matter-of-factness in these photos that was the most shocking and horrific. To see children brought to these events as if they were a Sunday afternoon picnic was simply unbelievable. But it (sadly) really happened.

Kevin Dugan setup a terrific Delicious page with links to all the different postings: http://delicious.com/prblog/NURFC

Take care and be well.

…Michael

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