The Fall of Saddam’s regime, WTC, Abu Ghraib and wars..on a playground. This could be the keywords of Serj Tankian’s video, called Empty Walls. Seriously, the above mentioned tragedies are traumas that have to be re-enacted from time to time to ease some kind of a general pain? Or – as they are more available in the Western part of the world -could they be seen as either the representations of shame (from the part of the anti-war protesters) or a radical and malignant message from the Others? (i.e People that are not us ,meaning not believing the same ideologies)
In Popular Culture, you might have noticed the manifestations of these happenings: think of Saddam’s appearance in South Park, just as the WTC has been depicted in the very same series.
So, maybe the Hungarian tragic happenings of 1956 is the core of the contemporary socio-political disturbances on the streets,as this trauma has not been processed by the Hungarian people. (I would say, this memory has more or less repressed)
Drugs in Milk 
May 12, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I believe people like to watch tragedies over and over again. It gives them a subject to talk about at home or at work (or on the PLAYGROUND w other moms).
I’m sure that those affected by these tragedies are not in the least glad to see those scenes over and over again.
On the other hand – as we mentioned in one of our intellectual conversations /;)/ – tragedies, traumas influence artists, it’s pretty easy to touch people with something so deep and meaningful.
P.S. I think this video is genius.
May 12, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Sooo, many people who were not affected by those tragedies like to view them over and over again? Am I right?
You’re partly right ,but I suppose ‘like’ is a bit of a strong word here. I mean, unless you are a mazochistic person, I dont think you like to watch these things. I’d rather think that you meant a deeper meaning of ‘like’ ; they feel compelled to watch them.(Of course, people are always keen on gossips and dramatic events, though)
P.S. I think the same:D
May 13, 2008 at 7:51 am
I totally meant like as in like like, not a deeper meaning. This is just like katasztrófaturizmus.
People love the extraordinary, no matter how many people’s deaths it caused.