The death of Osama Bin Laden puts a full stop on the high profiled search for the infamous Al Qaeda leader over the past decade. His impetuous actions inspired anger, pain and sorrow that shaken the whole nation for 10 years. Artists, Directors, Architects, Novelists and Poets had taken this collective emotion and expressed it in various means. An extensive list of their works could be found on Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cultural_references_of_the_September_11_attacks)
Could you think of other cultural references to 911?
For me, the first Hollywood blockbuster that comes into mind is “Remember Me.” As much as I hate to admit it, I paid to watch a movie starring Robert Patterson. I am going to spare you my lengthy excuse behind this decision. I walked into the theaters expecting to take a hit at yet another version of “Twilight”. I was surprised to be proven wrong. I would argue that the genius of the whole narrative/plot lies in the opening and ending scenes, the ~ 85 mins in between was…okay. Supposedly that was the part that sells the movie. I would argue the peripeteia at the end is simple yet bittersweet, and defiantly non-cliché, although some critics found it "exploitative in borrowing a tragedy to merely entertain." “Remember Me” is defiantly a movie to watch if you’re in the mood for a little sentimentality.
I quickly read the plot on wikipedia and now i am left wondering what the beginning and opening scenes look like. They do seem to have the promise of being two very poignant moments in the film. I wonder what it was like for Caroline to watch the planes hit knowing that her father worked there. I was much like Caroline when I saw the planes hit and towers smoking. I could see both from my 5th grade classroom in Brooklyn.I don't remember it being a traumatic event, but every once in a while I wonder just how much violence did I see that day? How many lives did I witness being lost? Thankfully I did not lose anyone in the towers, but if I had the aforementioned questions might still be ones that haunt me.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many cultural references to 9-11 out there today, but one the greatest things I've ever seen live was the BEST cultural reference to 911 out there. On September 21, 2011, baseball returned to New York city as the Mets battled the Braves at the old Shea Stadium. All the Metsies wore NYPD or FDNY caps on the field, and even I, ever the stoic baseball fan, shed a tear when the entire stadium joined together to sing-along to Liza Minnelli's rendition of New York, New York. This was such a great experience; I will forever remember that day and think of it whenever someone questions the good people of New York city.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvMmAJfO-pk
ReplyDelete^^ footage from that game, if anyone is interested