Culture & Symbols:
What We See, Why We Watch
Hollywood's War?
Did Hollywood movies, bloated on death and destruction, predict or even
inspire the attacks of September 11? Has guilt caused America's most powerful
global force to censor films, pump out military flicks and join the
propaganda effort? From The Village Voice, December 5
President As Pitchman
A new multimillion-dollar ad campaign that features President Bush promoting U.S. tourism is at best rank commercialism and at worst irresponsible, says Arianna Huffington. From WorkingForChange (Working Assets), December 11
Irony's Not Dead, Just Darker
Forget the claims that irony died on September 11, says New York-based
columnist Michael Musto; the tragic and twisted events since — and our
responses — are nothing if not bitterly ironic. From Villagevoice.com November 28
The Hip-Hop Antiwar Movement
With its global, multiracial, polycultural reach, the Hip-Hop Generation can play a
central role in a worldwide call for peace. From Alternet, November 19
War Games
A technology professor and artist has made a "video game" based on
Defense Department data of the war in Afghanistan, in order to show how
limited info restricts our ability to understand what's going on. From CityArts, Shrink To Fit
Peace Campaigns Online
Downloadable posters and a short Flash movie are just two examples of how activists are campaigning for peace online. From PostersForPeace
A photo editor explains how and when newspapers decide to run graphic
photos of dead bodies. From Guardian Unlimited,
November 19
Truth in poetry — from a Palestinian-New Yorker
(In text and video; video requires Quicktime player).
PLUS: More September 11-inspired art from popCULT.
Rap music and art depicting violence may lose appeal after September 11.
From The Black World Today, October 31
Cartoon: The Fear News Network!
From MotherJones, November 1
Pairing sports with war.
From The American Prospect, October 31
Post September 11 — is desensitizing images in pop culture going too far?
From Salon, October 19
Artists respond to the September 11 attacks and the current conflict.
From Rhizome
Media As Comfort
From History News Network, October 22
Afghanistan's Life-And-Death Soap Opera
From LA Weekly, October 5
The history of Afghanistan's soap opera and how it saved radio from the Taliban.
From Guardian Unlimited, October 23
We must understand cultural globalization or we risk greater distruction.
From openDemocracy, October 4
Spice Girls: Why Bin Laden Hates The West
From Islam Online via Globalvision News Network, October 10
Hollywood: From Insensitive to Hypersensitive
From Daily Mail & Guardian via AllAfrica.com, October 4
War, peace and hip hop.
From Wiretap, September 18
Music in times of crisis.
From Lip Magazine, September 23
September Snow: Why the English were glued to their TVs.
From Guardian Unlimited, September 14
What I saw on Australian TV.
From MediaChannel Forum, September 20
In a war of ideas and images, America is vulnerable.
From TomPaine, September 12
Is Understanding Tragedy Through Pop Culture A Bad Thing?
From PopPolitics.com, September 12
Andersen: Finding empathy - sensationalism overcomes compassion.
From MediaChannel Forum, September 13
