Judy Bernstein

Throughout our discussion of "They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky", we often addressed the validity of Judy Bernstein's representation of what the Lost Boys went through. I searched for about an hour for any reviews that addressed this idea in detail and couldn't find one. I just thought it was kind of interesting we found the need to question this, but that I was unable to find any information of anyone else questioning this as well.

Although, I did come upon an article addressing the definition of "creative non-fiction": http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/whatiscnf.htm .

Often, we spoke about Judy Bernstein illustrating the boys' experiences in a different way than they actually happened. However, as stated in the article, creative non-fiction authors simply present events that actually happened "..more interesting and often, more accessible." Therefore, I think we ridiculed Judy Bernstein a tad much. Although I do think it is justifiable to question the validity of Bernstein's literature, I do not believe what she has written is in any way, false. I now believe she conveyed the boys' experiences in a thought provoking and illustrative manner.

Power of Photography

After watching the videos on the Abu Ghraib incidents, I began to analyze the power photography has. I came upon this article containing a video of an author presenting her transcripts to an audience along with a slideshow of photographs: http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2010/04/the-storytelling-power-of-photography.html .

As I watched the presentation of the author, I found myself fully engaged the whole time. And it needed no fancy presentation or even advanced vocabulary. My main focus remained on the photographs. And after seeing each photograph, new emotions were evoked in me. This is very similar to how I felt when I watched the Abu Ghraib videos. The ability for a single photograph to capture a whole event in time is incredible. And I had not realized this ability until after watching the Abu Ghraib video and coming upon this article.

Submissive Tendencies

There are many affects war has on a soldier's mental state. One in particular I found static amongst all the war pieces we have read is how submissive these soldiers become. In the Abu Ghraib presentation, multiple soldiers spoke of how easily they obeyed the orders of superior rankings. Whether the soldiers were asking the inferior rankings to take pictures of the tortured peoples or be included in the photographs taken, the soldiers never refused. Similarly, in "All Quiet..." Paul obeyed all orders he was given. At many times throughout the novel, Paul even mentioned not fully understanding what it was he was fighting for, but simply that he was obeying the orders of his superiors. I think it's important to examine how little soldiers begin to think for themselves when put in the atmosphere of war. The power of war to strip soldiers of their free will and individuality is evident in all the war pieces we have read.

All Quiet vs. Abu Ghraib

When watching the Abu Ghraib video, I constantly found myself thinking about the events in "All Quiet On The Western Front". In particular, it was easy to make connections between the affects of war in Abu Ghraib to those included in "All Quiet..". For instance, multiple testimonies from the Abu Ghraib presentations spoke of dead people being taken away in body bags. Rather than presenting this tragic image in an emotionally attached manner, the soldiers spoke about these events in a monotone, matter-of-fact manner. Similarly, in "All Quiet.." Paul spoke about the death of his comrades and of other soldiers in the same manner. Often, he even mentioned how war affected his view of death and made him somewhat numb to the emotional damage death carries. The same can be said for the soldiers involved in the Abu Ghraib presentation. Having been surrounded by violence and death for so long, the soldiers became immune the emotional and mental baggage death possesses. For the soldiers in Abu Ghraib and in "All Quiet On The Western Front" death is no longer a threatening occurrence- rather, death is simply part of their everyday routine.

Photographs

One of the most eye-opening aspects of the Abu Ghraib presentation is the power of a photo. Although photographs are normally taken without thought, this presentation emphasizes the importance of thinking before doing (taking pictures). For example, by smiling in some of the photographs, the young woman appears to be participating in the incrimination, violent behavior with the other soldiers. Where in fact, she is simply a bystander that they forced to be involved in the photograph taking. But by only looking at the photo itself, from a completely disconnected point of view, this woman seems to be heartless and violent just as the actual abusers are. Moreover, realizing what image one is presenting when including themselves in a photograph is an important thing to think about. In addition, how are they portraying themselves in the photograph, physically (i.e. body language, hand gestures, facial expressions, etc.). Photographs capture a single moment, but don't quite explain the whole situation.

Details

After analyzing the validity or invalidity of the stories Bernstein tells of the Lost Boys I began to think about how well I remember the details of "tragic" things that happened to me as a child. I thought back to when I was in fifth grade and got into a car accident. I don't remember much about the accident in particular. But I remember, very vividly, the paramedics handing me a huge white teddy bear. I could explain this part of the accident easily but I don't think I could explain the accident itself as well. I think this is evident in the novel as well. Throughout the different events, Bernstein includes minor details that seem to be irrelevant or unneeded. But I think that because Bernstein includes these details, the stories become more believable and more intimate. For example, on page 191 Bernstein includes Benson's minor obsession with smokers. Although this has no major effect on the stories, including it makes the story specific to Benson and the other Lost Boys. I think by allowing Benson to speak about the little details he so vividly remembers, Bernstein allows him to make the story his own and unique to Benson only. In addition, the titles of each section are something to pay attention to as well. Rather than naming the sections that which sum up the main idea, Bernstein makes the titles corresponding to the minor details each boy vividly remembers. For example, Benson's section from pages 262-269 is labeled "Everybody Except Cats and Chickens" but the main details of this section are about the hardships in Kakuma. The instance where "Everybody except cats and chickens" comes up, is but a minor detail amongst the main idea. But I think that because Benson specifically remembers this detail, Bernstein allows it to be the title of the section because it stuck out to Benson the most. Thus, making this section more intimate for Benson.

So, although we ridiculed Bernstein for her tampering with each story, I think it's also important to recognize the little things she did to personalize the stories for the boys. I found that by including minuscule details, I connected with the stories on a more intimate level.

Purpose of Flashbacks

Throughout the novel, "The Sorrow of War", flashbacks are utilized by Kien quite often. I believe he uses flashbacks as a way to illustrate his disconnection from the war. Although he is physically in the war, he is never fully, mentally present. By constantly referring back to past experiences and memories, Kien emphasizes just how often he thinks of better times before the war- and often he thinks of worse times before the war. Very rarely is Kien describing his experiences or emotions in the present time. And I think this is a useful technique in illustrating his lack of emotional connectivity to his actions in the war.

Moreover, it might be more difficult for the reader to follow along with the chronological order of events in the novel but that could possibly be the author's reason for including these flashbacks. By constantly switching from present tense to past tense, the instability of Kien's emotions during the war is illustrated. Kien is constantly referring back to memories and then back to present time, then back to the past once again. Kien is rarely fully present and this is emphasized by his tendency to reminisce on past experiences rather than focus on the present.

Personally, I don't like the use of flashbacks throughout the book because it makes the novel very hard to follow. Although, I suppose that is the author's reasoning for such a technique. During the war, it was frustrating for Kien to constantly reminisce rather than live in the moment. As it is frustrating for the reader to constantly have to read in different tenses. The reader feels Kien's confusion and frustration in the war through their frustration and confusion with the novel's structure.