SPRING 2022 ISSUE CA337 + GL320 SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS
witness. THE WILMINGTON COLLEGE STUDENT-OPERATED NEWS AGENCY, SERVING THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
HIROSHIMA'S SHADOWS
Who? CA337 Advanced Photography Faculty: Jeff Hazelden
GL320 Hiroshima's Shadows Faculty: Tanya Maus
Kaitlin Armstrong Owen Baumann Izaia Billingsley Jennah Blair Anna Bzovi Heidi Edens Anna Endsley Blake Frazier Brittany Gregory Lizz Hadley Alexis Halley Seme'one Mundy Brianna Purvis Megan Roell Zach Schecter
Ben Alten Austin Christman Cailee Croy Jake Duncan Anthony Gilmore Logan Hayes Alyssa Hickey Ashley Howard Bryce Howard Camry Jenkins Andrew Jones Kearsten Kirby Shelby Kirby Brenna Luti Yusef Muqtadir
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS We are the Wilmington College student operated news agency dedicated to serving the campus and the community. #eyesopenpensout witnessthechange.org @wcwitness
02 | WITNESS • SPRING 2022
Grant Murray Brent Ponikvar Abigail Shinkle Deven Speck Lauren Whitaker
HIROSHIMA'S SHADOWS The works and the writings in this publication regarding the United States atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945 are the result of a collaboration between students in Global 320 "Hiroshima's Shadows" and students in Communication Arts 337 "Advanced Digital Photography." CA 337 students were asked to develop image objects (collages) from archival photographs selected by Communication Arts Professor Jeff Hazelden and myself from the Wilmington College Peace Resource Center (PRC) Barbara Reynolds Memorial Archives (BRMA). GL320 students were asked to respond to the photographs and the image objects. The PRC is the only academic center and archives in the United States wholly devoted to the human experience of nuclear war vis-à-vis the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As such, it provides invaluable scholarly resources to researchers nationally and internationally, and for Wilmington College and southwest Ohio, it is a unique space that invites our community to become aware of past nuclear atrocity and the need to abolish nuclear weapons in the present. Many of the students in GL320 had little knowledge of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki before they took the course. Their writings reflect this new encounter with the horror of nuclear war and the mass civilian deaths resulting from the U.S. decision to develop and utilize such weapons 77 years ago. As we face the possibility of nuclear annihilation yet again in the Russian Ukraine War, may we all act together to demand the elimination of these weapons of mass destruction and renounce military and state violence as a means to resolving conflict. Tanya Maus Director of the Peace Resource Center and Adjunct Professor
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HS0108 Kaitlin Armstrong + Anna Bzovi
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"Cruel images selectively mute: it’s not that one refuses or chooses not to speak, it’s that one is left “literally unable to speak” about what is being seen." -Oraib Toukan SPRING 2022 • WITNESS | 05
HS0108 - The photograph depicts where a man once was sitting during the explosion... A man was seated here before the blast and all that is left of him was a shadow of where he sat. Photographers from the United States came over to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to photograph the aftermath of the devastating events. The subjects of these photographs were the survivors and the remnants of the ones who lost their lives. I like to believe that the photographer who took this image wanted everyone to know that this man turned to dust in a matter of seconds and that there were many others just like him. Disconnected is the best way to describe this feeling of viewing this image right now. There is a disconnect because I personally do not know what this person that was sitting on these stairs went through. There is also a disconnect between me and the photographer who took this picture. The photographer got to view the whole scene and not just the stairs with the shadow that I am looking at right now. -Kearsten Kirby
HS0108 - I think the American military might have taken these photographs to document the effects of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima... I think these photographs were taken to display the power and destructive ability of the atomic bombs. The US wanted to be able to show the world how dangerous their weapon was. Viewing this image today versus the instant the photograph was recorded is much different. Today, we view this photo as an educational resource and while it does evoke some emotion, it does not have as much emotional appeal as it did right when it was taken. This is also because I did not experience the atomic bombings firsthand. To me, this image is symbolizing all the lives that were lost and Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The image shows a shadow of where a man was seated when he was instantly vaporized by the atomic bomb. -Alyssa Hickey
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HS0108 - When you think of shadows what comes to mind? In the case of this person's family it is more so “who” comes to mind. The more you study this image the more horrific it becomes. The idea of a person, a HUMAN BEING, being incinerated so fast that all that is left of them is their shadow…is heartbreaking. While the U.S. military was doing their job and “surveying” the damage they snapped this picture. The idea of seeing how “successful” the bomb was at wiping human lives off the map and reporting it back to your “boss” so they can admire it is just cruel. Today, this image hopefully shows how far we’ve come as a civilization. Instead of siding with the military officials, I hope we would share the same emotions as those from Japan at the time. This is nothing to celebrate, it is a cruel and disgusting part of our past. At the time of this photograph, there was a lot of hatred towards Japanese people from Americans due to the “art” of dehumanizing. We waged the war against all of Japan, not just their military. In saying that, Americans would have felt a sense of pride in knowing we created a technology capable of this much destruction and massacre. Completely disregarding the human lives lost and the “inhumanity.“ Hopefully today we can feel a sense of remorse when we see this picture. That we might feel a sense of guilt for covering this hideous history up. We destroyed civilian lives and yet we tried to cover it up as a success in history books in classrooms. -Anthony Gilmore
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HS0208 Owen Baumann + Jennah Blair
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"To have great pain is to have certainty; to hear that another person has pain is to have doubt." -Elaine Scarry SPRING 2022 • WITNESS | 09
HS0208 - My picture is of a man lying down, and he looks like he is in so much pain... I do not think at the time I would have wanted to be photographed by people when I was in that much pain. I am not sure how he feels, but I can imagine that he would not want a camera shoved in his face while he is suffering. Everything about photography is relative. The meaning I take from this image is connected to the suffering the Japanese civilians endured after the bombings. It shows how broken and torn up the people and cities were when they were obliterated in a second by a bomb. All the tears with different scenes and faces all piled underneath this main photo shows the mess that bombs created. These are very powerful messages that so many people will take so very differently. When you see this image with no context or background, you might see just a man hurting badly from something, but knowing what I know now, I see a man who has suffered at the hands of people who make war because they cannot negotiate effectively. We are humans with emotions and this would be a perfect world, if this could work. As far as our world now, I do not think we could ever stop wars from occurring. People are very emotional and that is just the way life is. Hopefully, one day, we can come together and not create anymore wars. -Cailee Croy
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HS0208 - The photograph that I am looking at is of a sick man lying on a twin mattress that sits on the ground... He looks to be writhing in pain and very uncomfortable. The man is very thin and appears to be malnourished. He is naked, wearing nothing but a robe. The way he is lying on his side and has the robe draped over his shoulders leads me to believe that this man possibly has wounds on his back. Wounds from an atomic bomb explosion. The environment does not look like a doctor’s office, but I assume that a doctor took this photo. The nuclear bomb survivor does not look like he has the proper accommodations or medical care. This also could have been taken by a soldier who was reporting survivor symptoms back to the United States. It is hard to tell from the setting and quality of the photograph, but you feel bad for the subject without knowing him or his story. This photo has survived and made it from 1945 to 2022. 77 years, that is how long this photo has existed. . . . Photographs like this are evidence of past sufferings and how long it takes a land and its people to heal from such devastating events. Surrounding the photo is torn, crumpled, and burnt pieces of paper that include other photographs, military papers, letters, and possibly news articles. I can hardly make out any of the background images or read any of the words. I think the purpose is to show the destruction, suffering, and pain that took place. To illustrate how broken the houses must have been after they collapsed on the families they once gave shelter to, or to represent the burnt flesh of the Japanese survivors. -Camry Jenkins
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HS0308 Heidi Edens + Alexis Halley
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"The past is the one thing we are not prisoners of. We can do with the past exactly what we wish. What we can't do is to change its consequences." -John Berger SPRING 2022 • WITNESS | 13
HS0308 - The man wearing the robe appears to be distressed... His expression of exhaustion is one that can be felt through the image. He leans over as he sits on what appears to be a cot. It is as if the photographer is capturing an image that represents the sorrowful effects of war. There is a depiction of grief and sadness. The weight of the war is so still resting on these individuals' shoulders and they will have to carry this weight for the rest of their lives. As a viewer of this image, I will never be able to replicate the feelings of the people in this image. I can only bear witness to the impact it has made on human lives. At the precise moment that this image was taken, an emotion was captured through that lens. The discontinuity that exists now lies in the simple truth that nothing I can do will reverse this unfortunate event. Knowing what I know about the detonation of the atomic bombs, the image has awoken a new sensitivity or sympathy toward the effects of war. Such photographs create an illusion that we are gaining an inside perspective on what these victims encountered, when in reality, we really know nothing at all. The dissonance captured within the artwork helps to enhance its emotional expressiveness. It is something of the sublime nature. -Shelby Kirby
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HS0308 - I've noticed that in my country, people tend to blame the victim a lot... If someone gets sexually assaulted, then it's on them if they wore revealing clothing or were drunk. People tend to ignore the facts that the victim did not or could not consent, that the perpetrator should not have done that to begin with. This can be essentially true for people who were in other dangerous situations as well. I think people use this victim blaming mentality regarding the bombings. An eye for an eye, as they say. I find this thinking very faulty. Yes, members of the Japanese military not only bombed Pearl Harbor, but also committed many other atrocities in Southeast Asia as well. That does not justify the use of atomic weapons on civilians. The civilian population suffered as well, yet many only see the military. A lot of people do not consider the amount of death and destruction the bombs caused. Multiple meanings come to mind when I see this photo. One is the burden on survivors and their descendants. I know from experience that one person’s trauma can be passed down through multiple generations. I can only imagine the trauma the atomic bombings could cause. There is a special kind of hell that comes with dealing with your own family trauma, especially when it gets repeated multiple times. -Brenna Luti
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HS0408 Izaia Billingsley + Anna Endsley
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"Our task is to make trouble, to stir up potent response to devastating events, as well as to settle troubled waters and rebuild quiet places." -Donna Haraway SPRING 2022 • WITNESS | 17
HS0408 - Most people at the time did not know that a bomb of this caliber could exist... Just telling someone that the bombs had this effect would not put it into perspective. The title of the photo is “Model of Bomb Devastated Hiroshima,” leading me to believe the purpose is to show the destruction. I believe the photo was taken by a news source or someone that wanted as many people to see it as possible. This photo was taken as a lesson of what the bombs can do. If the meaning could be twisted, I believe there could be a darker meaning to the photo. The people that used the bombs knew what the intent behind them was. It may be concluded this photo was taken to show how effective they were. When this photo was first taken, I believe it was intended more for the shock factor. The intent was to shock and to make people fear the United States or to show how strong they were. Today the photo serves more as a reminder. A reminder to future generations what this kind of power is capable of. The message I take from this photo is to avoid this from happening again, at all costs. I believe that is why the photographer zoomed out so far on the picture. Showing as much as they could of what happened. The lack of a personal connection to any one person makes me believe that it holds a broader meaning such as that. -Deven Speck
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HS0408 - Dear Destruction... Do you know how you have affected the lives of others? I am sorry for not acknowledging your anger earlier. I wish there was a way I could have stopped you from coming. Why did you choose to take away the ones that others cared for? I wish I could understand the importance of your existence. Your existence is the reason for so much sadness. This includes my life as well as everyone in the present time. Your moment in time caused an unbelievable amount of sadness due to losing loved ones as well as homes. Do you represent a warning to us if something is not changed? Seeing what you are capable of has made me more aware of my current life. You have the potential to end everything around me. Is that how you want your message to be spread? Is fear what it is going to take for us to try to avoid bringing you into our lives as much as possible. I do not want you in my life but also see the necessity of having here. Having you here makes me realize how much better off I am when you are gone. I used to cheer for you and think that you could fix problems through your ways. What I didn't understand before is that you also affect the innocence around you. What was the purpose of the destroyed homes? Is it so important to warn others that some innocence must be satisfied and taken away? I wonder if there is a purpose for you or if you are just thrown around aimlessly affecting everything that you touch. -Deven Speck
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HS0508 Jeff Hazelden
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"Those who can't remember the past are condemned to have it resold to them forever." -Mark Fisher SPRING 2022 • WITNESS | 21
HS0508 - Viewing an image can give you a false sense of remembrance... It is easy to fall into a trance when looking at something beautiful or unusual. You can start to feel as if you are there. I am experiencing the image years later, while sitting on a chair with no immediate thoughts of harm or insecurity. The original photographer knows what the moment felt like, we do not. We were not there, we cannot feel this past moment. Finding meaning within things is one of the most simple yet hardest tasks. Through the 9000°F temperatures, radiation, and rubble, life found a way. The photo shows the aftermath of an atomic bomb, while out of the rubble grows a small plant. The person who took this was in the midst of absolute destruction, and still found life. Life is a funny thing, because no matter how bad it gets, it always finds a way. The beauty of the plant is that we know it didn’t survive the blast, this was fresh, new growth. Its seed, the spirit of the plant held strong and grew back. Present day, Hiroshima and Nagasaki have come back and are lively cities. The cities in a sense relate to this plant. -Brent Ponikvar
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HS0508 - The atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki are unfortunately a blemish in our global society as one people... The ruins left behind weren't just physical, nor only in those two cities. The ruins stretch far beyond the rubble left behind and the scars of the victims of the atrocity. However, when there is nothing left behind, there is creation of opportunity. It is unfortunate that with this destruction, there is creation. Creation of a world and society that is willing to learn and grow from this shameful event. With that, there is growth. A lone plant serves as a reminder that even in a cruel and dark time, there is still hope for us as a human society to grow. There is life all around us, and we as humans have the right to protect life in all forms, colors, shapes, etc. through peace. While we cannot end history, we must learn and move forward to create a world of peace and unity, rebuild the ruins we left behind, and heal the scars of the suffering. -Yusef Muqtadir
HS0508 - At the time this image was photographed, many Japanese people were suffering due to the atomic bombs... The photograph could be used as symbol of rebirth. Even though people will get knocked down, they can choose to get up and keep going, just as this plant did. Looking at the image now, some may view it just as a plant starting to grow. But to me, I see it as a sign that the Japanese most likely saw too, hope. Even though things were hard, the plant chose to grow. I believe that the Japanese people could relate to this and keep their country from completely falling apart after the war and the bombing. I also view this image the same way, because no matter the situation, I will keep going in life. -Grant Murray
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HS0608 Brianna Purvis + Megan Roell
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"The photographer's intentions do not determine the meaning of the photograph, which will have its own career, blown by the whims and loyalties of the diverse communities that have use for it." -Susan Sontag SPRING 2022 • WITNESS | 25
HS0608 - In this picture you see a young woman who looks like she’s giving blood or getting a transfusion... You can also see the pain and devastation on her face. We don’t know her story. All we can see is concern in her face as well as seeing that she has what appears to be a needle in her arm. This picture makes you really stop and look. Many people would go on in life without knowing where their family members were. Many children had to grow up without a parent or parents. I could not imagine growing up without my parents. Many others had to live with their grandparents, and their grandparents had to work even if they were not able to. Not only did this affect Japan but also the United States. We also lost soldiers and many also had to deal with the aftereffects the bomb caused. We will truly never understand what everyone went through during that time. All we know is from the pictures we see that many look lost and are injured. Others show the aftermath of the bomb and for some of us, looking at these photographs hurt because of what we see. -Lauren Whitaker
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HS0608 - These photos are very heartbreaking... These photos bring sadness into my mind. Is this a survivor who was hurt? It is so sad to see. I think they are getting a transfusion? Is it because they were hurt so badly and they lost a lot of blood? She looks very lethargic. In the collage, the notes that are found on the outside are heartbreaking to see. They are most likely letters that were written to loved ones who wanted to be able to speak to them one more time. The blood smeared on the photos evoke so many emotions in my mind. -Abigail Shinkle
HS0608 - A girl frozen in a moment... Dealing with the aftershocks of a war you did not choose to be a part of. An unimaginable suffering, left to be a warning. Living history, not only textbook but technology. Unable to understand why this happened to you. I cannot sit here privileged with time and distance, understanding the pain and solitude you have suffered. A cropped moment of history, that is the time I have with you. I do not know what happened seconds or hours before this photograph. I cannot see inches outside of the lens. I can never know the pain you went though. Your fate rewrote by a foreign power. Your destiny was ripped out of your hands by one decision. This decision should not be taken lightly. You weren’t military, you were part of the civilian group hidden from their victorious gaze. Leaving you powerless and defenseless for your foreseeable future. I will never know your story. I will always have an edited version of the story. I wish I could hear how you want to tell your story. To get back some of the lost meanings. -Ashley Howard
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HS0708 Brittany Gregory, Lizz Hadley, + Zach Schecter
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"I feel at home in the entire world, wherever there are clouds and birds and human tears." -Rosa Luxemburg SPRING 2022 • WITNESS | 29
HS0708 - I believe at the time these photographs were originally captured... the images were used as proof of how powerful and destructive this new weapon was. They were used to scare other countries and celebrate that the United States were the first ones to get ahold of a weapon of this magnitude. I do not see this image in either of those ways. I think this photograph is hard to look at. It makes you realize how much pain and suffering the nuclear bombs caused. The buildings are completely destroyed and barely standing, there were people in those buildings. These images show the complete disregard for human life by the United States government and military. These bombs changed lives forever. People lost their loved ones, their belongings, and their homes because the United States wanted to show off their new creation. Even after they saw the destruction one bomb created, they still chose to drop another one. It makes you wonder how somebody can feel they are doing the right thing when they are taking the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people who have nothing to do with the war. The collage should be hard to look at. If you truly look deep into this piece you can almost feel the suffering the people experienced. It should almost anger you because something as terrible as these bombings should never happen. That is how this piece should be used. It should inspire people to ensure that something like this never happens again. Nobody should experience the suffering the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki did. Nobody has the right to ruin hundreds of thousands of innocent lives under any circumstance, and our own country did it in Japan. -Jake Duncan
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HS0708 - This picture was taken for all of the wrong reasons... It wasn’t taken to get people to sympathize with Japan, it was taken to show the world what the U.S. was willing to do to save American lives and end a war. For the U.S. it showed its citizens that atomic weapons did in fact end the war that brought them hatred and bitterness. The photograph was taken not to sympathize, but to celebrate. Looking at the image now as a U.S. citizen, one will sympathize. The image shows us the true devastation an atomic weapon creates. In this picture, all we see is a wasteland. In the pictures, we see a concrete wall cracked and almost falling over as well as steel bent and hanging from the structure. This shows the true power of atomic weapons. If the building hardly survived, the people in and around them probably did not. Although we might not see physical evidence of death, we can think about how much was caused. It is hard to fathom that this happened across two cities. It would be ignorant to not sympathize with the people who lived and experienced the devastation. -Austin Christman
HS0708 - The catastrophe that took place on that day in August can never be fully captured in just one photograph... The amount of devastation goes beyond just the infrastructure, but the lives lost, the permanently injured, and the stain that it left behind on the lives of thousands. I think whoever took this photo wanted to record the devastation from an outside perspective, or they were involved with the catastrophe. The building itself looks like it could have been a factory or a hospital with many floors to it. I think the photographer had the intention of sharing this source with the mainstream media in America to show the U.S. what they “accomplished.” On the contrary, it also could have been a Japanese civilian who survived and wanted to remember the day that the world collapsed. Whoever it was, the photo was taken for remembrance of the devastation. People can formulate ideas about this disturbing photo, but I think we can all agree that it is a scene of devastation. -Bryce Howard
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HS0808 Blake Frazier + Seme'one Mundy
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"I am the machine that reveals the world to you as only I alone am able to see it." -Dziga Vertov SPRING 2022 • WITNESS | 33
HS0808 - I see a building, and if I had not known the history, it would be just another building... With the story behind it I feel guilt. Guilt at what our leaders did. I feel anger. Why would one think this is the right decision? I may never know the pain they went through, but I see their suffering. It does not matter how you look at this picture. Turn it upside down there is still a gloom in the air. A sadness as to what we have done. The government may have taken these photos because they created a bomb that does enough damage to wipe out thousands of people. They want to see what they call a “work of art.” These pictures may also have been taken by someone looking for change. Why is war the answer? Why is it when two or more countries have a problem, the resolution is fighting? A picture of a building in pieces, what does this reveal? To many people, this building represents a place of memories. Many people take what they have for granted and all that’s left when its over is a memory. The government and anti-war groups contradict each other in this instance. The government celebrates an accomplishment, while the anti-war groups mourn the loss of lives and stands up for what was done. The images around the photograph resemble sadness in my eyes. They show pain with the crinkled up pages. They show a life before., a life that no longer exists. -Ben Alten
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HS0808 - I think this photo could have been taken by a member of the U.S. military or the Japanese government. The photograph shows demolished buildings either in Hiroshima or Nagasaki. I think that this photograph was taken to show the damage that was caused by the bomb. Military officials could have used the photos in their reports to their superiors, a member of the Atomic Energy Commission. The military could use it as a reason to use more nuclear weapons. At the moment that I am viewing it there is not as much shock as there would have been at the time it was taken. I have seen other photos before so the shock of how powerful the blast was is not as strong as it would have been right after it happened. The meaning that I read into the image is that it is meant to convey the shock and horror of the destructive power that the atomic bomb causes. -Andrew Jones
HS0808 - Dear Building... I never got to see you before you were destroyed, I am sure you were a beautiful building. You cared for a lot of people, and from the looks of the parts of you still standing, I'm sure you kept many safe. Now you stand as a part of a landmark. A landmark of something that was done, and the damage that was caused. Standing, shows the strength that you had to withstand what you went through. You may not look the same as you once did, however, you are a beautiful landmark and a testimony to your strength. Sincerely, Logan Hayes
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FANTASTICALLY ABSENT The subjects and scenes captured in these images represent an abhorrent disregard for human life. In constructing these images, our intention is to demonstrate a level of sensitivity and respect to the victims, to learn from the atrocities committed on behalf of the American people, and to contextualize the atomic bombings with our current historical moment. This project inhabits a given system of cultural production and distribution. Our screen-dominated society prefers representation to reality, appearance to essence, copy to original. The resulting artworks examine the ways in which value and meaning are assigned to an original image-object (collage) and its digital reproduction. The camera makes the visible world reproduceable, opening channels for global distribution. This challenges the market value of originals in favor of the more accessible copy. With digital documents revisions are always possible, reality is infinitely plastic and capable of reconfiguring itself at any moment. This reveals the extent to which our collective experiences are shaped by media, as well as the tools used to establish competing histories. Jeff Hazelden Assistant Professor of Communication Arts
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PEACE RESOURCE CENTER With its mission to “work for peace by bearing witness to the historical experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing survivors and the legacies of nonviolent activists touched by the horrors of nuclear war,” the Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College is the only academic center in the United States solely devoted to the history of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945. The BRMA is the largest collection of materials in the United States that focuses on the human experience of nuclear war vis-à-vis the atomic bombings as well as the Cold War nuclear disarmament movement in the United States and Japan.
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Eyes open, pens out. "A pattern can only last its own forever and the song on repeat follows me around the city. The heart is the bloodiest organ and its rhythmic pacing and growling troubles the perception like movement at the edge of the vision mistaken for a creature." -HANNAH BLACK