Who We Are

We are a group of students at American University in Washington DC on a mission to identify and observe how the War in Iraq and Terrorism have impacted everyday life in America. The basis behind this project stems from the concepts outlined in this New Yorker article by critic Caleb Crain.

What We Do

We observe everyday life all around us taking notice with eyes and ears of the patterns, symbols and trends generated by our culture in reaction to the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001 and the War in Iraq. What we look for: How Americans live their lives in the shadow of the threat of terrorism and a distant war? What parts of their discourse, clothing, and behavior suggest their perception of terrorism and war? Click here for the history and definition of mass observation.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Home

I admit, I was directed to this by a friend, I did not just come across it. In front of a moderately sized home, well-looked after with a nice garden and two cars in the driveway, there is something written on the sidewalk facing the house. In very faded, hardly visible blue spray paint are the words, “GO HOME”. My friend, who babysits next door, tells me that a Persian family with two young children lives there. My friend does not know exactly when the words were written, but that it was sometime after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. This seems to be a daily reminder of who is and who is not considered to be “home” in America.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

People are thoughtless and afraid of others who are perceived to be different.
It can be anything, this perceived difference: clothes, skin color, religion, nationality, the way one walks, a pimple on the face.
And it isn't just Americans. It's a problem for every society.
Luckily, most people recognise this flaw in themselves and see past the differences. Or they learn to appreciate and celebrate the fact we are not all alike.

August 5, 2008 at 7:28:00 PM EST

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