how do you feel about old images of war?

Question

How do you feel when looking at images of past wars like world war I and II etc? do you think that continued exposure to this images have deadened their effect and meaning are they now just cliches frozen in time? any can we as a second/third/fourth generation truly understand and morn the horrors that these images present? Will future generations feel the same about wars like Iraq for example?

Answer 1

Do people still remember battle of Rome 100 B.C? No. The same horror image was there, people dying, blood, people torn into pieces, taken prisoners and tortured. All these things happened years before WWI and WWII, do we still remember it?

No, because if we did WWI and WWII can never happen. There are hundreds of war that happened before WWI and WWII, they're forgotten aren't they? Even though there were the same horrors? To us, this battle in Rome is now just a battle, it doesn't mean a thing.

Sure there weren't films back then, but memories of the war can't be glory, no not for the soldiers. History repeats itself, even if people understood it.

There must be a time when we forget the pains of war, the sufferings and start a war again. There will be a time when our future generations sees the image, and it doesn't mean much for them. They won't morn the horrors these images represents. To them, it's just history.

Answer 2

I am only second generation and grew up listening to my familys stories of the world wars. My grandmother had lived through both. The stories always ended with - you musn't let it happen again. The stories were very personal and brought the day to day reality for civilians in a war zone very clearly. When I see images I think of people I knew.



When I see footage of Dunkirk I think of my father in that position as he was there.



At the imperial war museum in London there is world war 1 footage of men going over the wire shot from behind as if you were next to go over the top. I asked my son who was a teenager at the time if he could imagine himself there and he said no problem. I remember feeling shocked at this as he was brought up as a pacifist with no toy guns.



I think without some personal connective hook the horror of war might be cliches frozen in time except that we are still having wars - 20 holocausts the last century.



I recently watched the charge of the light brigade film and it had a huge effect on me because in my mind from history lessons the 600 men sent by mistake to charge down the wrong way were in a deep canyon but the film had shown it as it was and it was just a shallow valley so I can feel something about a war I am 4th generation to.

Answer 3

Well, it is true that to appreciate the true horror of war it has to be experienced at first hand. But intelligent people should be able to imagine it.

I think that the images from the past do help to convey the right impression although I would concede that looking at them in a degree of comfort is not a bit like having your face in the mud while the bullets are flying.

Most people see news images of conflicts on the Television which seem to subdue their true impact. News reporters never go to the most dangerous places so don't be deceived. Some of these 'soft' images are just propaganda.

I was in the Australian Army in Vietnam and I can tell you that it was not a bit like you see reported or indeed shown in the films. Soldiers on active service live with a fear that eats away at them. They have to do things and stay at their posts when every nerve is telling them to run.



I hope this helps.

Answer 4

If we are to truly, fully understand the history of those past wars, the most disturbing pics are necessary and should be embraced as an educational tool without concern for desensitization. They supplement the words that explain the events and help to drive home the consequences/price of war. Therefore, the more, the better.

Answer 5

If I look at it as just a photo then it doesn't really affect me, but if I look at it for more than just a few seconds and start to think about it then it affects me more. I start to associate things with it and almost make up a life for the person like "That guy was married shortly before having to go to the war. He had a daughter. His uncle died from a heart attack four years before this..." stuff like that and then I see the pictures as more of a reality than just an image.

Answer 6

The horrors of war are inconceivable for all who haven't experienced the war. Even the next generation can't imagine what it is. Check out the following :

www.princeton.edu/~nanking/html/main.html

Answer 7

It would be better had we never seen photos of the past wars. It is true that we learn lessons from them, we learn how to murder people quicker with weapons other than bows and arrows and in a more humane fashion. A whole village with one shell. great isn't it.

Answer 8

I think the are vitally important and should be shown more.

Answer 9

I think: "Hey, people were criminally insane back then as well!"

Answer 10

Hi Lauren,



Do please learn to ask a question without "loading" it with your answer. Anyone with a brain will likely fcuk you off. As my brain has been there and back, I do tend to agree with you.



And, sorry babe, it's "mourn" not " morn".