4. The Presence of War: "Here and Elsewhere", Michael Shapiro

Thursday, June 2nd, 16.45 - 18.15, at Società Letteraria
Abstract:
After reviewing conceptual contributions that address the blurred boundary between the war and home fronts and the complexities of contemporary political topologies in general, I turn to a reading of three artistic texts – the photomontages of Martha Rosler, Paul Haggis’s film In the Valley of Elah, and Annie Proulx’s story, “Tits Up in a Ditch” -to analyze the war front-home front relationship. I end with some reflections on the analytic contributions of montage techniques in terms of the way they establish equivalences that revalue our perspectives on the locations and actualities (presences) of war. The essay is inspired by Cindy Sheehan’s anti war protests, especially here establishment of “Camp Casey” outside of George Bush’s Texas ranch, seeking a conversation with the president about the domestic costs of the war. She made several appearances and rallied a group of mothers who have also lost sons.